Touch Screen Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Moving On-Screen Objects Without Using a Cursor

ABSTRACT

An electronic device with a touch screen display: detects a single finger contact on the touch screen display; creates a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact; determines a representative point within the touch area; determines if the touch area overlaps an object displayed on the touch screen display, which includes determining if one or more portions of the touch area other than the representative point overlap the object; connects the object with the touch area if the touch area overlaps the object, where connecting maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area; after connecting the object with the touch area, detects movement of the single finger contact; determines movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact; and moves the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/242,868,filed Sep. 30, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

This application is related to the following applications: (1) U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/188,182, “Touch Pad For Handheld Device,”filed Jul. 1, 2002; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/722,948,“Touch Pad For Handheld Device,” filed Nov. 25, 2003; (3) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/643,256, “Movable Touch Pad With AddedFunctionality,” filed Aug. 18, 2003; (4) U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/654,108, “Ambidextrous Mouse,” filed Sep. 2, 2003; (5) U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862, “Multipoint Touchscreen,” filedMay 6, 2004; (6) U.S. patent application Ser. No: 10/903,964, “GesturesFor Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jul. 30,2004; (7) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/038,590, “Mode-Based Graphical User InterfacesFor Touch Sensitive Input Devices” filed Jan. 18, 2005; (8) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/057,050, “Display Actuator,” filed Feb. 11,2005; (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/367,749, “Multi-FunctionalHand-Held Device,” filed Mar. 3, 2006; and (10) U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/850,635, “Touch Screen Device, Method, and Graphical UserInterface for Determining Commands by Applying Heuristics,” filed Sep.5, 2007. All of these applications are incorporated by reference hereinin their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to electronic devices withtouch screen displays, and more particularly, to electronic devices thatuse one or more finger contacts to move on-screen objects without usinga cursor to move the objects.

BACKGROUND

The use of touch screen displays as input devices for computers andother electronic devices has increased significantly in recent years.Some touch screen displays permit direct finger manipulation ofon-screen objects in a manner that resembles manipulation of physicalobjects in the physical world, rather than requiring indirectmanipulation of on-screen objects (e.g., via a cursor). In general,touch screen interfaces that closely emulate the physical world providea more transparent and intuitive experience to a user because the usercan simply use the touch screen interface based on their understandingof the physical world.

But existing touch screen interfaces with direct finger manipulation ofon-screen objects have limitations in their abilities to emulateinteraction with real world objects. For example, touch screeninterfaces typically convert a finger contact on the touch screen into asingle point (e.g., the centroid of the detected finger contact) andthen use this point to interact with objects on the touch screen. If thesingle point does not overlap with an on-screen object, even thoughother parts of the finger contact do overlap with the object, then theobject may not be selected for manipulation by the user. Thus, moreprecise positioning of the finger contact is needed to interact with anobject, which in turn obscures more of the object during manipulation.In addition, with each finger contact converted to a single point, atleast two fingers are required to rotate an object.

Accordingly, there is a need for electronic devices with moretransparent and intuitive user interfaces for moving on-screen objectsin accordance with finger contacts and movements on a touch screendisplay without using a cursor to move the objects. Such interfacesincrease the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction withelectronic devices with touch screen displays.

SUMMARY

The above deficiencies and other problems associated with userinterfaces for electronic devices with touch screen displays are reducedor eliminated by the disclosed devices. In some embodiments, the deviceis portable. In some embodiments, the device has a touch-sensitivedisplay (also known as a “touch screen” or “touch screen display”) witha graphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors, memory and oneor more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memoryfor performing multiple functions. In some embodiments, the userinteracts with the GUI primarily through finger contacts and gestures onthe touch-sensitive display. In some embodiments, the functions mayinclude game playing, telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing,instant messaging, blogging, digital photographing, digital videoing,web browsing, digital music playing, and/or digital video playing.Instructions for performing these functions may be included in acomputer readable storage medium or other computer program productconfigured for execution by one or more processors.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method isperformed at an electronic device with a touch screen display. Thecomputer-implemented method includes: displaying a plurality of objectson the touch screen display; detecting single finger contact on thetouch screen display; creating a touch area that corresponds to thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display; determining arepresentative point within the touch area; and determining if the toucharea overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on thetouch screen display. Determining if the touch area overlaps the objectincludes determining if one or more portions of the touch area otherthan the representative point overlap the object. Thecomputer-implemented method further includes connecting the object withthe touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object.Connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of theobject and the touch area. The computer-implemented method furtherincludes: after connecting the object with the touch area, detectingmovement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement ofthe single finger contact on the touch screen display; and moving theobject connected with the touch area in accordance with the determinedmovement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computing device includes a touchscreen display, one or more processors, memory, and one or moreprograms. The one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or moreprograms include instructions for: displaying a plurality of objects onthe touch screen display; detecting a single finger contact on the touchscreen display; creating a touch area that corresponds to the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display; determining a representativepoint within the touch area; and determining if the touch area overlapsan object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screendisplay. Determining if the touch area overlaps the object includesdetermining if one or more portions of the touch area other than therepresentative point overlap the object. The one or more programsfurther include instructions for connecting the object with the toucharea if the touch area is determined to overlap the object. Connectingthe object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object andthe touch area. The one or more programs further include instructionsfor: after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movementof the single finger contact on the touch screen display; determiningmovement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display; and moving the objectconnected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movementof the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage mediumhas stored therein instructions which when executed by a computingdevice with a touch screen display, cause the device to: display aplurality of objects on the touch screen display; detect a single fingercontact on the touch screen display; create a touch area thatcorresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;determine a representative point within the touch area; determine if thetouch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed onthe touch screen display, wherein determining if the touch area overlapsthe object includes determining if one or more portions of the toucharea other than the representative point overlap the object; connect theobject with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlapthe object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintainsthe overlap of the object and the touch area; after connecting theobject with the touch area, detect movement of the single finger contacton the touch screen display; determine movement of the touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; and move the object connected with the touch area in accordancewith the determined movement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on acomputing device with a touch screen display includes a plurality ofobjects. The plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screendisplay. A single finger contact is detected on the touch screendisplay. A touch area is created that corresponds to the single fingercontact on the touch screen display. A representative point isdetermined within the touch area. Whether the touch area overlaps anobject in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen displayis determined. The determination includes determining if one or moreportions of the touch area other than the representative point overlapthe object. The object is connected with the touch area if the toucharea is determined to overlap the object. Connecting the object with thetouch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area. Afterconnecting the object with the touch area, movement of the single fingercontact is detected on the touch screen display. Movement of the toucharea is determined that corresponds to movement of the single fingercontact on the touch screen display. The object connected with the toucharea is moved in accordance with the determined movement of the toucharea.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computing device includes: atouch screen display; means for displaying a plurality of objects on thetouch screen display; means for detecting a single finger contact on thetouch screen display; means for creating a touch area that correspondsto the single finger contact on the touch screen display; means fordetermining a representative point within the touch area; means fordetermining if the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality ofobjects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein determining ifthe touch area overlaps the object includes determining if one or moreportions of the touch area other than the representative point overlapthe object; means for connecting the object with the touch area if thetouch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting theobject with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and thetouch area; means for after connecting the object with the touch area,detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; means for determining movement of the touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; and means for moving the object connected with the touch areain accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method isperformed at an electronic device with a touch screen display. Thecomputer-implemented method includes: displaying a plurality of objectson the touch screen display; detecting a single finger contact on thetouch screen display; and creating a touch area that corresponds to thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display. The touch areaincludes a perimeter. The computer-implemented method further includes:determining a representative point within the touch area; for an objectin the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display,determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps theobject; determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps theobject; and determining if a portion of the touch area between therepresentative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the toucharea overlaps the object; and connecting the object with the touch areaif the touch area is determined to overlap the object. Connecting theobject with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and thetouch area. The computer-implemented method further includes: afterconnecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display; determining movementof the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single fingercontact on the touch screen display; and moving the object connectedwith the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of thetouch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computing device includes: atouch screen display; one or more processors; memory; and one or moreprograms. The one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or moreprograms include instructions for: displaying a plurality of objects onthe touch screen display; detecting a single finger contact on the touchscreen display; creating a touch area that corresponds to the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch areaincludes a perimeter; determining a representative point within thetouch area; for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on thetouch screen display: determining if the representative point of thetouch area overlaps the object; determining if the perimeter of thetouch area overlaps the object; and determining if a portion of thetouch area between the representative point of the touch area and theperimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; connecting the objectwith the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap theobject, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains theoverlap of the object and the touch area; after connecting the objectwith the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact onthe touch screen display; determining movement of the touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; and moving the object connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage mediumhas stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computingdevice with a touch screen display, cause the computing device to:display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display; detect asingle finger contact on the touch screen display; create a touch areathat corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter; determine arepresentative point within the touch area; for an object in theplurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display: determine ifthe representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;determine if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; anddetermine if a portion of the touch area between the representativepoint of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps theobject; connect the object with the touch area if the touch area isdetermined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with thetouch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area; afterconnecting the object with the touch area, detect movement of the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display; determine movement of thetouch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact onthe touch screen display; and move the object connected with the toucharea in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on acomputing device with a touch screen display includes a plurality ofobjects. The plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screendisplay. A single finger contact is detected on the touch screendisplay. A touch area is created that corresponds to the single fingercontact on the touch screen display. The touch area includes aperimeter. A representative point is determined within the touch area.For an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screendisplay: whether the representative point of the touch area overlaps theobject is determined; whether the perimeter of the touch area overlapsthe object is determined; and whether a portion of the touch areabetween the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter ofthe touch area overlaps the object is determined. The object isconnected with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlapthe object. Connecting the object with the touch area maintains theoverlap of the object and the touch area. After connecting the objectwith the touch area, movement of the single finger contact is detectedon the touch screen display. Movement of the touch area is determinedthat corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touchscreen display. The object connected with the touch area is moved inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic deviceincludes: a touch screen display; means for displaying a plurality ofobjects on the touch screen display; means for detecting a single fingercontact on the touch screen display; means for creating a touch areathat corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter; means fordetermining a representative point within the touch area; for an objectin the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display: meansfor determining if the representative point of the touch area overlapsthe object; means for determining if the perimeter of the touch areaoverlaps the object; and means for determining if a portion of the toucharea between the representative point of the touch area and theperimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; means for connectingthe object with the touch area if the touch area is determined tooverlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch areamaintains the overlap of the object and the touch area; means for afterconnecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display; means for determiningmovement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display; and means for moving theobject connected with the touch area in accordance with the determinedmovement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method isperformed at an electronic device with a touch screen display. Thecomputer-implemented method includes: displaying a plurality of objectson the touch screen display; detecting a single finger contact on thetouch screen display; creating a touch area that corresponds to thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display; determining if thetouch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed onthe touch screen display; connecting the object with the touch area ifthe touch area is determined to overlap the object; after connecting theobject with the touch area, detecting rotation of the single fingercontact on the touch screen display; determining rotation of the toucharea that corresponds to rotation of the single finger contact on thetouch screen display; and rotating the object connected with the toucharea in accordance with the determined rotation of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computing device includes: atouch screen display; one or more processors; memory; and one or moreprograms. The one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or moreprograms include instructions for: displaying a plurality of objects onthe touch screen display; detecting a single finger contact on the touchscreen display; creating a touch area that corresponds to the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display; determining if the toucharea overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on thetouch screen display; connecting the object with the touch area if thetouch area is determined to overlap the object; after connecting theobject with the touch area, detecting rotation of the single fingercontact on the touch screen display; determining rotation of the toucharea that corresponds to rotation of the single finger contact on thetouch screen display; and rotating the object connected with the toucharea in accordance with the determined rotation of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage mediumhas stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computingdevice with a touch screen display, cause the computing device to:display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display; detect asingle finger contact on the touch screen display; create a touch areathat corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; determine if the touch area overlaps an object in the pluralityof objects displayed on the touch screen display; connect the objectwith the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap theobject; after connecting the object with the touch area, detect rotationof the single finger contact on the touch screen display; determinerotation of the touch area that corresponds to rotation of the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display; and rotate the objectconnected with the touch area in accordance with the determined rotationof the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on acomputing device with a touch screen display includes a plurality ofobjects. The plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screendisplay. A single finger contact is detected on the touch screendisplay. A touch area is created that corresponds to the single fingercontact on the touch screen display. Whether the touch area overlaps anobject in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen displayis determined. The object is connected with the touch area if the toucharea is determined to overlap the object. After connecting the objectwith the touch area, rotation of the single finger contact is detectedon the touch screen display. Rotation of the touch area is determinedthat corresponds to rotation of the single finger contact on the touchscreen display. The object connected with the touch area is rotated inaccordance with the determined rotation of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic deviceincludes: a touch screen display; means for displaying a plurality ofobjects on the touch screen display; means for detecting a single fingercontact on the touch screen display; means for creating a touch areathat corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; means for determining if the touch area overlaps an object inthe plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display; meansfor connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area isdetermined to overlap the object; means for after connecting the objectwith the touch area, detecting rotation of the single finger contact onthe touch screen display; means for determining rotation of the toucharea that corresponds to rotation of the single finger contact on thetouch screen display; and means for rotating the object connected withthe touch area in accordance with the determined rotation of the toucharea.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method isperformed at an electronic device with a touch screen display. Thecomputer-implemented method includes: displaying a plurality of objectson the touch screen display; detecting a single finger contact on thetouch screen display; creating a touch area that corresponds to thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display; detecting movement ofthe single finger contact on the touch screen display; determiningmovement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display; while detecting movement ofthe single finger contact on the touch screen display, detectingintersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality ofobjects on the touch screen display; and, in response to detectingintersection of the touch area with the object, moving the object suchthat the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computing device includes: atouch screen display; one or more processors; memory; and one or moreprograms. The one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or moreprograms include: instructions for: displaying a plurality of objects onthe touch screen display; detecting a single finger contact on the touchscreen display; creating a touch area that corresponds to the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display; detecting movement of thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display; determining movementof the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single fingercontact on the touch screen display; while detecting movement of thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display, detectingintersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality ofobjects on the touch screen display; and, in response to detectingintersection of the touch area with the object, moving the object suchthat the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage mediumhas stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computingdevice with a touch screen display, cause the computing device to:display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display; detect asingle finger contact on the touch screen display; create a touch areathat corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; detect movement of the single finger contact on the touchscreen display; determine movement of the touch area that corresponds tomovement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; whiledetecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay, detect intersection of the touch area with an object in theplurality of objects on the touch screen display; and, in response todetecting intersection of the touch area with the object, move theobject such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on acomputing device with a touch screen display includes a plurality ofobjects. The plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screendisplay. A single finger contact is detected on the touch screendisplay. A touch area is created that corresponds to the single fingercontact on the touch screen display. Movement of the single fingercontact is detected on the touch screen display. Movement of the toucharea is determined that corresponds to movement of the single fingercontact on the touch screen display. While detecting movement of thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display, intersection of thetouch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touchscreen display is detected. In response to detecting intersection of thetouch area with the object, the object is moved such that the objectceases to intersect the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic deviceincludes: a touch screen display; means for displaying a plurality ofobjects on the touch screen display; means for detecting a single fingercontact on the touch screen display; means for creating a touch areathat corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; means for detecting movement of the single finger contact onthe touch screen display; means for determining movement of the toucharea that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on thetouch screen display; means for while detecting movement of the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection ofthe touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touchscreen display; and means for, in response to detecting intersection ofthe touch area with the object, moving the object such that the objectceases to intersect the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method isperformed at an electronic device with a touch screen display. Thecomputer-implemented method includes: detecting a single finger contacton the touch screen display; creating a touch area that corresponds tothe single finger contact on the touch screen display; determining ifthe touch area overlaps with a plurality of objects displayed on thetouch screen display; and connecting the plurality of objects with thetouch area if each object in the plurality of objects is determined tooverlap the touch area. Connecting the plurality of objects with thetouch area maintains the overlap between the touch area and each objectin the plurality of objects. The computer-implemented method furtherincludes: after connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area,detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; determining movement of the touch area that corresponds tomovement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; andmoving the plurality of objects connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computing device includes: atouch screen display; one or more processors; memory; and one or moreprograms. The one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or moreprograms include instructions for: detecting a single finger contact onthe touch screen display; creating a touch area that corresponds to thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display; determining if thetouch area overlaps with a plurality of objects displayed on the touchscreen display; connecting the plurality of objects with the touch areaif each object in the plurality of objects is determined to overlap thetouch area, wherein connecting the plurality of objects with the toucharea maintains the overlap between the touch area and each object in theplurality of objects; after connecting the plurality of objects with thetouch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touchscreen display; determining movement of the touch area that correspondsto movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;and moving the plurality of objects connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage mediumhas stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computingdevice with a touch screen display, cause the computing device to:detect a single finger contact on the touch screen display; create atouch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touchscreen display; determine if the touch area overlaps with a plurality ofobjects displayed on the touch screen display; connect the plurality ofobjects with the touch area if each object in the plurality of objectsis determined to overlap the touch area, wherein connecting theplurality of objects with the touch area maintains the overlap betweenthe touch area and each object in the plurality of objects; afterconnecting the plurality of objects with the touch area, detect movementof the single finger contact on the touch screen display; determinemovement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display; and move the plurality ofobjects connected with the touch area in accordance with the determinedmovement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on acomputing device with a touch screen display includes a plurality ofobjects. A single finger contact is detected on the touch screendisplay. A touch area is created that corresponds to the single fingercontact on the touch screen display. Whether the touch area overlapswith a plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display isdetermined. The plurality of objects are connected with the touch areaif each object in the plurality of objects is determined to overlap thetouch area. Connecting the plurality of objects with the touch areamaintains the overlap between the touch area and each object in theplurality of objects. After connecting the plurality of objects with thetouch area, movement of the single finger contact is detected on thetouch screen display. Movement of the touch area that corresponds tomovement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display isdetermined. The plurality of objects connected with the touch area aremoved in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic deviceincludes: a touch screen display; means for detecting a single fingercontact on the touch screen display; means for creating a touch areathat corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay; means for determining if the touch area overlaps with aplurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display; means forconnecting the plurality of objects with the touch area if each objectin the plurality of objects is determined to overlap the touch area,wherein connecting the plurality of objects with the touch areamaintains the overlap between the touch area and each object in theplurality of objects; means for after connecting the plurality ofobjects with the touch area, detecting movement of the single fingercontact on the touch screen display; means for determining movement ofthe touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contacton the touch screen display; and means for moving the plurality ofobjects connected with the touch area in accordance with the determinedmovement of the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method isperformed at an electronic device with a touch screen display. Thecomputer-implemented method includes: displaying a plurality of objectson the touch screen display; and simultaneously detecting a plurality offinger contacts on the touch screen display. For each respective fingercontact in the plurality of detected finger contacts, the method furtherincludes: creating a respective touch area that corresponds to therespective finger contact on the touch screen display; determining arespective representative point within the respective touch area;determining if the respective touch area overlaps a respective object inthe plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, whereindetermining if the respective touch area overlaps the respective objectincludes determining if one or more portions of the respective toucharea other than the respective representative point overlap therespective object; connecting the respective object with the respectivetouch area if the respective object is determined to overlap therespective touch area, wherein connecting the respective object with therespective touch area maintains the overlap of the respective object andthe respective touch area; after connecting the respective object withthe respective touch area, detecting movement of the respective fingercontact on the touch screen display; determining movement of therespective touch area that corresponds to movement of the respectivefinger contact on the touch screen display; and moving the respectiveobject connected with the respective touch area in accordance with thedetermined movement of the respective touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, an computing device includes: atouch screen display; one or more processors; memory; and one or moreprograms. The one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or moreprograms include instructions for: displaying a plurality of objects onthe touch screen display; and simultaneously detecting a plurality offinger contacts on the touch screen display. For each respective fingercontact in the plurality of detected finger contacts, the one or moreprograms further include instructions for: creating a respective toucharea that corresponds to the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; determining a respective representative point within therespective touch area; determining if the respective touch area overlapsa respective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touchscreen display, wherein determining if the respective touch areaoverlaps the respective object includes determining if one or moreportions of the respective touch area other than the respectiverepresentative point overlap the respective object; connecting therespective object with the respective touch area if the respectiveobject is determined to overlap the respective touch area, whereinconnecting the respective object with the respective touch areamaintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective toucharea; after connecting the respective object with the respective toucharea, detecting movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; determining movement of the respective touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; and moving the respective object connected with therespective touch area in accordance with the determined movement of therespective touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage mediumhas stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computingdevice with a touch screen display, cause the computing device to:display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display; andsimultaneously detect a plurality of finger contacts on the touch screendisplay. For each respective finger contact in the plurality of detectedfinger contacts, the instructions further cause the computing device to:create a respective touch area that corresponds to the respective fingercontact on the touch screen display; determine a respectiverepresentative point within the respective touch area; determine if therespective touch area overlaps a respective object in the plurality ofobjects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein determining ifthe respective touch area overlaps the respective object includesdetermining if one or more portions of the respective touch area otherthan the respective representative point overlap the respective object;connect the respective object with the respective touch area if therespective object is determined to overlap the respective touch area,wherein connecting the respective object with the respective touch areamaintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective toucharea; after connecting the respective object with the respective toucharea, detect movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; determine movement of the respective touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; and move the respective object connected with therespective touch area in accordance with the determined movement of therespective touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on acomputing device with a touch screen display includes a plurality ofobjects. The plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screendisplay. A plurality of finger contacts on the touch screen display aresimultaneously detected. For each respective finger contact in theplurality of detected finger contacts: a respective touch area iscreated that corresponds to the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; a respective representative point within the respectivetouch area is determined; whether the respective touch area overlaps arespective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touchscreen display is determined, wherein the determination includesdetermining if one or more portions of the respective touch area otherthan the respective representative point overlap the respective object;the respective object is connected with the respective touch area if therespective object is determined to overlap the respective touch area,wherein connecting the respective object with the respective touch areamaintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective toucharea; after connecting the respective object with the respective toucharea, movement of the respective finger contact is detected on the touchscreen display; movement of the respective touch area is determined thatcorresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; and the respective object connected with the respectivetouch area is moved in accordance with the determined movement of therespective touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic deviceincludes: a touch screen display; means for displaying a plurality ofobjects on the touch screen display; and means for simultaneouslydetecting a plurality of finger contacts on the touch screen display.For each respective finger contact in the plurality of detected fingercontacts, the device further includes: means for creating a respectivetouch area that corresponds to the respective finger contact on thetouch screen display; means for determining a respective representativepoint within the respective touch area; means for determining if therespective touch area overlaps a respective object in the plurality ofobjects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein the means fordetermining if the respective touch area overlaps the respective objectincludes means for determining if one or more portions of the respectivetouch area other than the respective representative point overlap therespective object; means for connecting the respective object with therespective touch area if the respective object is determined to overlapthe respective touch area, wherein connecting the respective object withthe respective touch area maintains the overlap of the respective objectand the respective touch area; means for after connecting the respectiveobject with the respective touch area, detecting movement of therespective finger contact on the touch screen display; means fordetermining movement of the respective touch area that corresponds tomovement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;and means for moving the respective object connected with the respectivetouch area in accordance with the determined movement of the respectivetouch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method isperformed at an electronic device with a touch screen display. Thecomputer-implemented method includes: displaying a plurality of objectson the touch screen display; and detecting a hand edge contact on thetouch screen display. The hand edge contact comprises a pinky fingeredge contact and a palm edge contact. The computer-implemented methodfurther includes: creating a touch area that corresponds to the handedge contact on the touch screen display; detecting movement of the handedge contact on the touch screen display; determining movement of thetouch area that corresponds to movement of the hand edge contact on thetouch screen display; while detecting movement of the hand edge contacton the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the touch areawith an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display;and, in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with theobject, moving the object such that the object ceases to intersect thetouch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computing device includes: atouch screen display; one or more processors; memory; and one or moreprograms. The one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or moreprograms include instructions for: displaying a plurality of objects onthe touch screen display; detecting a hand edge contact on the touchscreen display, wherein the hand edge contact comprises a pinky fingeredge contact and a palm edge contact; creating a touch area thatcorresponds to the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement ofthe hand edge contact on the touch screen display; while detectingmovement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display, detectingintersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality ofobjects on the touch screen display; and, in response to detectingintersection of the touch area with the object, moving the object suchthat the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage mediumhas stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computingdevice with a touch screen display, cause the computing device to:display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display; detect ahand edge contact on the touch screen display, wherein the hand edgecontact comprises a pinky finger edge contact and a palm edge contact;create a touch area that corresponds to the hand edge contact on thetouch screen display; detect movement of the hand edge contact on thetouch screen display; determine movement of the touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screendisplay; while detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touchscreen display, detect intersection of the touch area with an object inthe plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and, in responseto detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, move theobject such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on acomputing device with a touch screen display includes a plurality ofobjects. The plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screendisplay. A hand edge contact is detected on the touch screen display.The hand edge contact comprises a pinky finger edge contact and a palmedge contact. A touch area is created that corresponds to the hand edgecontact on the touch screen display. Movement of the hand edge contactis detected on the touch screen display. Movement of the touch area isdetermined that corresponds to movement of the hand edge contact on thetouch screen display. While detecting movement of the hand edge contacton the touch screen display, intersection of the touch area with anobject in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display isdetected. In response to detecting intersection of the touch area withthe object, the object is moved such that the object ceases to intersectthe touch area.

In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic deviceincludes: a touch screen display; means for displaying a plurality ofobjects on the touch screen display; means for detecting a hand edgecontact on the touch screen display, wherein the hand edge contactcomprises a pinky finger edge contact and a palm edge contact; means forcreating a touch area that corresponds to the hand edge contact on thetouch screen display; means for detecting movement of the hand edgecontact on the touch screen display; means for determining movement ofthe touch area that corresponds to movement of the hand edge contact onthe touch screen display; means for while detecting movement of the handedge contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of thetouch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touchscreen display; and means for, in response to detecting intersection ofthe touch area with the object, moving the object such that the objectceases to intersect the touch area.

Thus, devices with touch screen displays are provided with moreintuitive interfaces that use direct finger manipulation to contact,move, and interact with objects on the touch screen display, therebyincreasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction withsuch devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the aforementioned embodiments of theinvention as well as additional embodiments thereof, reference should bemade to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer tocorresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating portable multifunctiondevices with touch-sensitive displays in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device having a touch screenin accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic device with a touchscreen display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary user interfaces for a menu ofapplications on a portable multifunction device in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 5A illustrates an overhead view of an exemplary finger in contactwith a touch screen display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5B illustrates a side view of the finger and the touch screen ofFIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C illustrates the components of a touch area in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIGS. 5D-5F illustrate hit regions for on-screen objects in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIGS. 6A-6F illustrate various degrees and types of overlap of a toucharea with an object displayed on the touch screen display in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate touch areas created by modeling a single fingercontact as a geometric object in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8A illustrates translating an on-screen object in a graphical userinterface on a touch screen display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8B illustrates rotating an on-screen object in a graphical userinterface on a touch screen display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8C illustrates simultaneously translating and rotating an on-screenobject in a graphical user interface on a touch screen display inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate two-dimensional and simulatedthree-dimensional on-screen objects modeled as a set of vertices inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate moving an unconnected on-screen object inresponse to intersection with a connected on-screen object in agraphical user interface on a touch screen display in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate moving an unconnected on-screen object inresponse to intersection with a connected on-screen object in agraphical user interface on a touch screen display, where both objectsare modeled as a set of vertices, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate moving an on-screen object in response tointersection with a touch area in a graphical user interface on a touchscreen display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 13A illustrates translating multiple on-screen objects in agraphical user interface on a touch screen display in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 13B illustrates rotating multiple on-screen objects in a graphicaluser interface on a touch screen display in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 13C illustrates simultaneously translating and rotating multipleon-screen objects in a graphical user interface on a touch screendisplay in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 13D illustrates simultaneously translating and rotating multipleon-screen objects in a graphical user interface on a touch screendisplay in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate moving on-screen objects in a graphical userinterface on a touch screen display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 15A-15B illustrate a touch area overlapping with one or morevertices of an on-screen object in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 16A-16G are flow diagrams illustrating a method of moving anon-screen object with a single finger in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of moving an on-screenobject with a single finger in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of rotating an on-screenobject with a single finger in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of moving an on-screenobject with a single finger in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 20 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of moving a plurality ofon-screen objects with a single finger in accordance with someembodiments.

FIGS. 21A-21B are flow diagrams illustrating a method of simultaneouslymoving multiple on-screen objects with multiple fingers in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of moving an object witha hand edge contact in accordance with some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present inventionmay be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks havenot been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspectsof the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first gesture could be termed asecond gesture, and, similarly, a second gesture could be termed a firstgesture, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is forthe purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is notintended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description ofthe invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that theterm “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and allpossible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Itwill be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon”or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” dependingon the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [astated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upondetermining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [thestated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the statedcondition or event],” depending on the context.

Embodiments of an electronic device, user interfaces for such devices,and associated processes for using such devices are described. In someembodiments, the device is a portable communications device such as amobile telephone that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/ormusic player functions.

The user interface may include a physical click wheel in addition to atouch screen or a virtual click wheel displayed on the touch screen. Aclick wheel is a user-interface device that may provide navigationcommands based on an angular displacement of the wheel or a point ofcontact with the wheel by a user of the device. A click wheel may alsobe used to provide a user command corresponding to selection of one ormore items, for example, when the user of the device presses down on atleast a portion of the wheel or the center of the wheel. Alternatively,breaking contact with a click wheel image on a touch screen surface mayindicate a user command corresponding to selection. For simplicity, inthe discussion that follows, a portable multifunction device thatincludes a touch screen is used as an exemplary embodiment. It should beunderstood, however, that some of the user interfaces and associatedprocesses may be applied to other devices, such as personal computersand laptop computers, which may include one or more other physicaluser-interface devices, such as a physical click wheel, a physicalkeyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick.

The device supports a variety of applications, such as one or more ofthe following: a gaming application, a telephone application, a videoconferencing application, an e-mail application, an instant messagingapplication, a blogging application, a photo management application, adigital camera application, a digital video camera application, a webbrowsing application, a digital music player application, and/or adigital video player application.

The various applications that may be executed on the device may use atleast one common physical user-interface device, such as the touchscreen. One or more functions of the touch screen as well ascorresponding information displayed on the device may be adjusted and/orvaried from one application to the next and/or within a respectiveapplication. In this way, a common physical architecture (such as thetouch screen) of the device may support the variety of applications withuser interfaces that are intuitive and transparent.

The user interfaces may include one or more soft keyboard embodiments.The soft keyboard embodiments may include standard (QWERTY) and/ornon-standard configurations of symbols on the displayed icons of thekeyboard, such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.11/459,606, “Keyboards For Portable Electronic Devices,” filed Jul. 24,2006, and 11/459,615, “Touch Screen Keyboards For Portable ElectronicDevices,” filed Jul. 24, 2006, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety. The keyboard embodimentsmay include a reduced number of icons (or soft keys) relative to thenumber of keys in existing physical keyboards, such as that for atypewriter. This may make it easier for users to select one or moreicons in the keyboard, and thus, one or more corresponding symbols. Thekeyboard embodiments may be adaptive. For example, displayed icons maybe modified in accordance with user actions, such as selecting one ormore icons and/or one or more corresponding symbols. One or moreapplications on the portable device may utilize common and/or differentkeyboard embodiments. Thus, the keyboard embodiment used may be tailoredto at least some of the applications. In some embodiments, one or morekeyboard embodiments may be tailored to a respective user. For example,one or more keyboard embodiments may be tailored to a respective userbased on a word usage history (lexicography, slang, individual usage) ofthe respective user. Some of the keyboard embodiments may be adjusted toreduce a probability of a user error when selecting one or more icons,and thus one or more symbols, when using the soft keyboard embodiments.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of devices withtouch-sensitive displays. FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagramsillustrating portable multifunction devices 100 with touch-sensitivedisplays 112 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch-sensitivedisplay 112 is sometimes called a “touch screen” for convenience, andmay also be known as or called a touch-sensitive display system. Thedevice 100 may include a memory 102 (which may include one or morecomputer readable storage mediums), a memory controller 122, one or moreprocessing units (CPU's) 120, a peripherals interface 118, RF circuitry108, audio circuitry 110, a speaker 111, a microphone 113, aninput/output (I/O) subsystem 106, other input or control devices 116,and an external port 124. The device 100 may include one or more opticalsensors 164. These components may communicate over one or morecommunication buses or signal lines 103.

It should be appreciated that the device 100 is only one example of aportable multifunction device 100, and that the device 100 may have moreor fewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or amay have a different configuration or arrangement of the components. Thevarious components shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B may be implemented inhardware, software or a combination of both hardware and software,including one or more signal processing and/or application specificintegrated circuits.

Memory 102 may include high-speed random access memory and may alsoinclude non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memorydevices. Access to memory 102 by other components of the device 100,such as the CPU 120 and the peripherals interface 118, may be controlledby the memory controller 122.

The peripherals interface 118 couples the input and output peripheralsof the device to the CPU 120 and memory 102. The one or more processors120 run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructionsstored in memory 102 to perform various functions for the device 100 andto process data.

In some embodiments, the peripherals interface 118, the CPU 120, and thememory controller 122 may be implemented on a single chip, such as achip 104. In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separatechips.

The RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals,also called electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry 108 convertselectrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry 108 may include well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. The RFcircuitry 108 may communicate with networks, such as the Internet, alsoreferred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wirelessnetwork, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local areanetwork (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and otherdevices by wireless communication. The wireless communication may useany of a plurality of communications standards, protocols andtechnologies, including but not limited to Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), high-speeddownlink packet access (HSDPA), wideband code division multiple access(W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a,IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over InternetProtocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for email (e.g., Internet messageaccess protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)), instantmessaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP),Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and PresenceLeveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), and/or Instant Messaging and PresenceService (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS)), or any othersuitable communication protocol, including communication protocols notyet developed as of the filing date of this document.

The audio circuitry 110, the speaker 111, and the microphone 113 providean audio interface between a user and the device 100. The audiocircuitry 110 receives audio data from the peripherals interface 118,converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits theelectrical signal to the speaker 111. The speaker 111 converts theelectrical signal to human-audible sound waves. The audio circuitry 110also receives electrical signals converted by the microphone 113 fromsound waves. The audio circuitry 110 converts the electrical signal toaudio data and transmits the audio data to the peripherals interface 118for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted tomemory 102 and/or the RF circuitry 108 by the peripherals interface 118.In some embodiments, the audio circuitry 110 also includes a headsetjack (e.g. 212, FIG. 2). The headset jack provides an interface betweenthe audio circuitry 110 and removable audio input/output peripherals,such as output-only headphones or a headset with both output (e.g., aheadphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., a microphone).

The I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on the device100, such as the touch screen 112 and other input/control devices 116,to the peripherals interface 118. The I/O subsystem 106 may include adisplay controller 156 and one or more input controllers 160 for otherinput or control devices. The one or more input controllers 160receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices116. The other input/control devices 116 may include physical buttons(e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches,joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternate embodiments,input controller(s) 160 may be coupled to any (or none) of thefollowing: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer devicesuch as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g., 208, FIG. 2) may includean up/down button for volume control of the speaker 111 and/or themicrophone 113. The one or more buttons may include a push button (e.g.,206, FIG. 2). A quick press of the push button may disengage a lock ofthe touch screen 112 or begin a process that uses gestures on the touchscreen to unlock the device, as described in U.S. patent application11/322,549, “Unlocking a Device by Performing Gestures on an UnlockImage,” filed Dec. 23, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety. A longer press of the push button (e.g., 206) may turnpower to the device 100 on or off. The user may be able to customize afunctionality of one or more of the buttons. The touch screen 112 isused to implement virtual or soft buttons and one or more softkeyboards.

The touch-sensitive touch screen 112 provides an input interface and anoutput interface between the device and a user. The display controller156 receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to the touch screen112. The touch screen 112 displays visual output to the user. The visualoutput may include graphics, text, icons, video, and any combinationthereof (collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some orall of the visual output may correspond to user-interface objects,further details of which are described below.

A touch screen 112 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set ofsensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactilecontact. The touch screen 112 and the display controller 156 (along withany associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory 102) detectcontact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on the touchscreen 112 and converts the detected contact into interaction withuser-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages orimages) that are displayed on the touch screen. In an exemplaryembodiment, a point of contact between a touch screen 112 and the usercorresponds to a finger of the user.

The touch screen 112 may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, orLPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, although other displaytechnologies may be used in other embodiments. The touch screen 112 andthe display controller 156 may detect contact and any movement orbreaking thereof using any of a plurality of capacitive touch sensingtechnologies now known or later developed, including but not limited toprojected mutual capacitance touch sensing technologies, as well asother proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining areas ofcontact with a touch screen 112.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen 112may be analogous to the multi-touch sensitive tablets described in thefollowing U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,323,846 (Westerman et al.), 6,570,557(Westerman et al.), and/or 6,677,932 (Westerman), and/or U.S. PatentPublication 2002/0015024A1, each of which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. However, a touch screen 112 displays visualoutput from the portable device 100, whereas touch sensitive tablets donot provide visual output.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen 112may be as described in the following applications: (1) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/381,313, “Multipoint Touch Surface Controller,”filed May 2, 2006; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862,“Multipoint Touchscreen,” filed May 6, 2004; (3) U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/903,964, “Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filedJul. 30, 2004; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,264,“Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 31, 2005; (5)U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/038,590, “Mode-Based Graphical UserInterfaces For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 18, 2005; (6)U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,758, “Virtual Input DevicePlacement On A Touch Screen User Interface,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (7)U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,700, “Operation Of A ComputerWith A Touch Screen Interface,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (8) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/228,737, “Activating Virtual Keys Of ATouch-Screen Virtual Keyboard,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; and (9) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/367,749, “Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device,”filed Mar. 3, 2006. All of these applications are incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

The touch screen 112 may have a resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In anexemplary embodiment, the touch screen has a resolution of approximately160 dpi. The user may make contact with the touch screen 112 using anysuitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth.In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarilywith finger-based contacts and gestures, which are much less precisethan stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger onthe touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the roughfinger-based input into a precise command for performing the actionsdesired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, the device 100 mayinclude a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particularfunctions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive areaof the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visualoutput. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separatefrom the touch screen 112 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surfaceformed by the touch screen.

In some embodiments, the device 100 may include a physical or virtualclick wheel as an input control device 116. A user may navigate amongand interact with one or more graphical objects (henceforth referred toas icons) displayed in the touch screen 112 by rotating the click wheelor by moving a point of contact with the click wheel (e.g., where theamount of movement of the point of contact is measured by its angulardisplacement with respect to a center point of the click wheel). Theclick wheel may also be used to select one or more of the displayedicons. For example, the user may press down on at least a portion of theclick wheel or an associated button. User commands and navigationcommands provided by the user via the click wheel may be processed by aninput controller 160 as well as one or more of the modules and/or setsof instructions in memory 102. For a virtual click wheel, the clickwheel and click wheel controller may be part of the touch screen 112 andthe display controller 156, respectively. For a virtual click wheel, theclick wheel may be either an opaque or semitransparent object thatappears and disappears on the touch screen display in response to userinteraction with the device. In some embodiments, a virtual click wheelis displayed on the touch screen of a portable multifunction device andoperated by user contact with the touch screen.

The device 100 also includes a power system 162 for powering the variouscomponents. The power system 162 may include a power management system,one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), arecharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converteror inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode(LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

The device 100 may also include one or more optical sensors 164. FIGS.1A and 1B show an optical sensor coupled to an optical sensor controller158 in I/O subsystem 106. The optical sensor 164 may includecharge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor(CMOS) phototransistors. The optical sensor 164 receives light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the lightto data representing an image. In conjunction with an imaging module 143(also called a camera module), the optical sensor 164 may capture stillimages or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located onthe back of the device 100, opposite the touch screen display 112 on thefront of the device, so that the touch screen display may be used as aviewfinder for either still and/or video image acquisition. In someembodiments, an optical sensor is located on the front of the device sothat the user's image may be obtained for videoconferencing while theuser views the other video conference participants on the touch screendisplay. In some embodiments, the position of the optical sensor 164 canbe changed by the user (e.g., by rotating the lens and the sensor in thedevice housing) so that a single optical sensor 164 may be used alongwith the touch screen display for both video conferencing and stilland/or video image acquisition.

The device 100 may also include one or more proximity sensors 166. FIGS.1A and 1B show a proximity sensor 166 coupled to the peripheralsinterface 118. Alternately, the proximity sensor 166 may be coupled toan input controller 160 in the I/O subsystem 106. The proximity sensor166 may perform as described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.11/241,839, “Proximity Detector In Handheld Device”; 11/240,788,“Proximity Detector In Handheld Device”; 11/620,702, “Using AmbientLight Sensor To Augment Proximity Sensor Output”; 11/586,862, “AutomatedResponse To And Sensing Of User Activity In Portable Devices”; and11/638,251, “Methods And Systems For Automatic Configuration OfPeripherals,” which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns off anddisables the touch screen 112 when the multifunction device is placednear the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call). Insome embodiments, the proximity sensor keeps the screen off when thedevice is in the user's pocket, purse, or other dark area to preventunnecessary battery drainage when the device is a locked state.

The device 100 may also include one or more accelerometers 168. FIGS. 1Aand 1B show an accelerometer 168 coupled to the peripherals interface118. Alternately, the accelerometer 168 may be coupled to an inputcontroller 160 in the I/O subsystem 106. The accelerometer 168 mayperform as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050190059,“Acceleration-based Theft Detection System for Portable ElectronicDevices,” and U.S. Patent Publication No. 20060017692, “Methods AndApparatuses For Operating A Portable Device Based On An Accelerometer,”both of which are which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety. In some embodiments, information is displayed on the touchscreen display in a portrait view or a landscape view based on ananalysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 102 mayinclude an operating system 126, a communication module (or set ofinstructions) 128, a contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 130,a graphics module (or set of instructions) 132, a text input module (orset of instructions) 134, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module (orset of instructions) 135, and applications (or set of instructions) 136.

The operating system 126 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X,WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includesvarious software components and/or drivers for controlling and managinggeneral system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control,power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between varioushardware and software components.

The communication module 128 facilitates communication with otherdevices over one or more external ports 124 and also includes varioussoftware components for handling data received by the RF circuitry 108and/or the external port 124. The external port 124 (e.g., UniversalSerial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly toother devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wirelessLAN, etc.). In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g.,30-pin) connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatiblewith the 30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Computer,Inc.) devices.

The contact/motion module 130 may detect contact with the touch screen112 (in conjunction with the display controller 156) and other touchsensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Thecontact/motion module 130 includes various software components forperforming various operations related to detection of contact, such asdetermining if contact has occurred, determining if there is movement ofthe contact and tracking the movement across the touch screen 112, anddetermining if the contact has been broken (i.e., if the contact hasceased). Determining movement of the point of contact may includedetermining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction),and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of thepoint of contact. These operations may be applied to single contacts(e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g.,“multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments, thecontact/motion module 130 and the display controller 156 also detectscontact on a touchpad. In some embodiments, the contact/motion module130 and the controller 160 detects contact on a click wheel.

The graphics module 132 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on the touch screen 112, includingcomponents for changing the intensity of graphics that are displayed. Asused herein, the term “graphics” includes any object that can bedisplayed to a user, including without limitation text, web pages, icons(such as user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images,videos, animations and the like.

The text input module 134, which may be a component of graphics module132, provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications(e.g., contacts 137, e-mail 140, IM 141, blogging 142, browser 147, andany other application that needs text input).

The GPS module 135 determines the location of the device and providesthis information for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 138for use in location-based dialing, to camera 143 and/or blogger 142 aspicture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-basedservices such as weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, andmap/navigation widgets).

The applications 136 may include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   a contacts module 137 (sometimes called an address book or        contact list);    -   a telephone module 138;    -   a video conferencing module 139;    -   an e-mail client module 140;    -   an instant messaging (IM) module 141;    -   a blogging module 142;    -   a camera module 143 for still and/or video images;    -   an image management module 144;    -   a video player module 145;    -   a music player module 146;    -   a browser module 147;    -   a calendar module 148;    -   widget modules 149, which may include weather widget 149-1,        stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 149-3, alarm clock widget        149-4, dictionary widget 149-5, and other widgets obtained by        the user, as well as user-created widgets 149-6;    -   widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;    -   search module 151;    -   video and music player module 152, which merges video player        module 145 and music player module 146;    -   notes module 153;    -   map module 154; and/or    -   online video module 155.

Examples of other applications 136 that may be stored in memory 102include other word processing applications, JAVA-enabled applications,encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, and voicereplication.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the contactsmodule 137 may be used to manage an address book or contact list,including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from theaddress book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es),physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating animage with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephonenumbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communicationsby telephone 138, video conference 139, e-mail 140, or IM 141; and soforth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the telephonemodule 138 may be used to enter a sequence of characters correspondingto a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in theaddress book 137, modify a telephone number that has been entered, diala respective telephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect orhang up when the conversation is completed. As noted above, the wirelesscommunication may use any of a plurality of communications standards,protocols and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130, graphics module132, text input module 134, contact list 137, and telephone module 138,the videoconferencing module 139 may be used to initiate, conduct, andterminate a video conference between a user and one or more otherparticipants.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, the e-mail client module 140 may be used to create, send,receive, and manage e-mail. In conjunction with image management module144, the e-mail module 140 makes it very easy to create and send e-mailswith still or video images taken with camera module 143.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, the instant messaging module 141 may be used to enter asequence of characters corresponding to an instant message, to modifypreviously entered characters, to transmit a respective instant message(for example, using a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia MessageService (MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages or usingXMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), to receiveinstant messages and to view received instant messages. In someembodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages may includegraphics, photos, audio files, video files and/or other attachments asare supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS). Asused herein, “instant messaging” refers to both telephony-based messages(e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and Internet-based messages(e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, image management module 144, and browsing module 147, theblogging module 142 may be used to send text, still images, video,and/or other graphics to a blog (e.g., the user's blog).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, opticalsensor(s) 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130,graphics module 132, and image management module 144, the camera module143 may be used to capture still images or video (including a videostream) and store them into memory 102, modify characteristics of astill image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory 102.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and cameramodule 143, the image management module 144 may be used to arrange,modify or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in adigital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, and speaker 111,the video player module 145 may be used to display, present or otherwiseplay back videos (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connecteddisplay via external port 124).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker111, RF circuitry 108, and browser module 147, the music player module146 allows the user to download and play back recorded music and othersound files stored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AACfiles. In some embodiments, the device 100 may include the functionalityof an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, the browser module 147 may be used to browse the Internet,including searching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages orportions thereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to webpages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, e-mail module 140, and browser module 147, the calendarmodule 148 may be used to create, display, modify, and store calendarsand data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists,etc.).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, the widget modules 149 aremini-applications that may be downloaded and used by a user (e.g.,weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 149-3,alarm clock widget 149-4, and dictionary widget 149-5) or created by theuser (e.g., user-created widget 149-6). In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (CascadingStyle Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file(e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, the widget creator module 150 may beused by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portionof a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, thesearch module 151 may be used to search for text, music, sound, image,video, and/or other files in memory 102 that match one or more searchcriteria (e.g., one or more user-specified search terms).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the notesmodule 153 may be used to create and manage notes, to do lists, and thelike.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, GPS module 135, and browser module 147, the map module 154may be used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and dataassociated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and otherpoints of interest at or near a particular location; and otherlocation-based data).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker111, RF circuitry 108, text input module 134, e-mail client module 140,and browser module 147, the online video module 155 allows the user toaccess, browse, receive (e.g., by streaming and/or download), play back(e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connected display viaexternal port 124), send an e-mail with a link to a particular onlinevideo, and otherwise manage online videos in one or more file formats,such as H.264. In some embodiments, instant messaging module 141, ratherthan e-mail client module 140, is used to send a link to a particularonline video. Additional description of the online video application canbe found in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/936,562,“Portable Multifunction Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface forPlaying Online Videos,” filed Jun. 20, 2007, and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/968,067, “Portable Multifunction Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Playing Online Videos,” filed Dec. 31,2007, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of instructions for performing one or more functions describedabove. These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need not beimplemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwiserearranged in various embodiments. For example, video player module 145may be combined with music player module 146 into a single module (e.g.,video and music player module 152, FIG. 1B). In some embodiments, memory102 may store a subset of the modules and data structures identifiedabove. Furthermore, memory 102 may store additional modules and datastructures not described above.

In some embodiments, the device 100 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen 112 and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screenand/or a touchpad as the primary input/control device for operation ofthe device 100, the number of physical input/control devices (such aspush buttons, dials, and the like) on the device 100 may be reduced.

The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between userinterfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user,navigates the device 100 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that may be displayed on the device 100. In such embodiments,the touchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some otherembodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or otherphysical input/control device instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device 100 having a touchscreen 112 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screen maydisplay one or more graphics within user interface (UI) 200. In thisembodiment, as well as others described below, a user may select one ormore of the graphics by making contact or touching the graphics, forexample, with one or more fingers 202 (not drawn to scale in thefigure). In some embodiments, selection of one or more graphics occurswhen the user breaks contact with the one or more graphics. In someembodiments, the contact may include a gesture, such as one or moretaps, one or more swipes (from left to right, right to left, upwardand/or downward) and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, leftto right, upward and/or downward) that has made contact with the device100. In some embodiments, inadvertent contact with a graphic may notselect the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweeps over anapplication icon may not select the corresponding application when thegesture corresponding to selection is a tap.

The device 100 may also include one or more physical buttons, such as“home” or menu button 204. As described previously, the menu button 204may be used to navigate to any application 136 in a set of applicationsthat may be executed on the device 100. Alternatively, in someembodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in a GUI intouch screen 112.

In one embodiment, the device 100 includes a touch screen 112, a menubutton 204, a push button 206 for powering the device on/off and lockingthe device, volume adjustment button(s) 208, a Subscriber IdentityModule (SIM) card slot 210, a head set jack 212, and a docking/chargingexternal port 124. The push button 206 may be used to turn the poweron/off on the device by depressing the button and holding the button inthe depressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the deviceby depressing the button and releasing the button before the predefinedtime interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate anunlock process. In an alternative embodiment, the device 100 also mayaccept verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functionsthrough the microphone 113.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic device with a touchscreen display in accordance with some embodiments. Device 300 need notbe portable. In some embodiments, the device 300 is a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a table computer, a multimedia player device, anavigation device, an educational device (such as a child's learningtoy), a gaming system, or a control device (e.g., a home or industrialcontroller). The device 300 typically includes one or more processingunits (CPU's) 310, one or more network or other communicationsinterfaces 360, memory 370, and one or more communication buses 320 forinterconnecting these components. The communication buses 320 mayinclude circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects andcontrols communications between system components. The device 300includes a user interface 330 comprising a touch-screen display 340. Theuser interface 330 also may include a keyboard and/or mouse (or otherpointing device) 350. Memory 370 includes high-speed random accessmemory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid statememory devices; and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or moremagnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flashmemory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices.Memory 370 may optionally include one or more storage devices remotelylocated from the CPU(s) 310. In some embodiments, memory 370 storesprograms, modules, and data structures analogous to the programs,modules, and data structures stored in the memory 102 of portablemultifunction device 100 (FIG. 1), or a subset thereof. Furthermore,memory 370 may store additional programs, modules, and data structures(not shown) not present in the memory 102 of portable multifunctiondevice 100.

Each of the above identified elements in FIG. 3 may be stored in one ormore of the previously mentioned memory devices. Each of the aboveidentified modules corresponds to a set of instructions for performing afunction described above. The above identified modules or programs(i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separatesoftware programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets ofthese modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in variousembodiments. In some embodiments, memory 370 may store a subset of themodules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 370may store additional modules and data structures not described above.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”)that may be implemented on a portable multifunction device 100.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary user interfaces for a menu ofapplications on a portable multifunction device 100 in accordance withsome embodiments. Similar user interfaces may be implemented on device300. In some embodiments, user interface 400A includes the followingelements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Signal strength indicator(s) 402 for wireless communication(s),        such as cellular and Wi-Fi signals;    -   Time 404;    -   Bluetooth indicator 405;    -   Battery status indicator 406;    -   Tray 408 with icons for frequently used applications, such as:        -   Phone 138, which may include an indicator 414 of the number            of missed calls or voicemail messages;        -   E-mail client 140, which may include an indicator 410 of the            number of unread e-mails;        -   Browser 147; and        -   Music player 146; and    -   Icons for other applications, such as:        -   IM 141;        -   Image management 144;        -   Camera 143;        -   Video player 145;        -   Weather 149-1;        -   Stocks 149-2;        -   Blog 142;        -   Calendar 148;        -   Calculator 149-3;        -   Alarm clock 149-4;        -   Dictionary 149-5; and        -   User-created widget 149-6.

In some embodiments, user interface 400B includes the followingelements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 405, 406, 141, 148, 144, 143, 149-3, 149-2, 149-1,        149-4, 410, 414, 138, 140, and 147, as described above;    -   Map 154;    -   Notes 153;    -   Settings 412, which provides access to settings for the device        100 and its various applications 136, as described further        below;    -   Video and music player module 152, also referred to as iPod        (trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.) module 152; and    -   Online video module 155, also referred to as YouTube (trademark        of Google, Inc.) module 155.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”)and associated processes that may be implemented on a computing devicewith a touch screen display, such as device 300 or portablemultifunction device 100.

FIG. 5A illustrates an overhead view 500 of an exemplary finger incontact with a touch screen display in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 5A shows finger 540 in contact 520-1 with a touch screen display505-1. A touch area 525-1 created by the device that corresponds to thecontact 520 is shown, along with a representative point 530-1 and acentroid 535 of the touch area. Note that the touch area 525 created bythe device is typically not visible to a user. In other words, the toucharea 525 models the finger contact 520, but the touch area 520 istypically not shown on the touch screen display 505.

FIG. 5B illustrates a side view of the finger and the touch screendisplay of FIG. 5A. In FIG. 5B, dotted lines corresponding to the edgesof finger contact 520-1 and touch area 525-1 in FIG. 5A are shown. Insome embodiments, the created touch area 525-1 is smaller than thecontact area 520-1 of the finger 540-1, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Insome embodiments, the created touch area 525 is larger than the contactarea 520 of the finger 540 (not shown).

FIG. 5C illustrates the components of a touch area 525 in accordancewith some embodiments. The touch area 525 is created in response todetecting a finger contact 520 with a touch screen display 510. Thetouch area 525 includes an area 555 with a perimeter 550 and arepresentative point 530. In some embodiments, the representative pointis the centroid 535 (FIG. 5A) of the touch area. In some embodiments,the representative point 530 is offset from the centroid 535 of thetouch area (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5A). The representative point may beoffset from the centroid to compensate for parallax, persistent errorsbetween desired and actual contact locations, or other finger placementerrors.

FIGS. 5D-5F illustrate hit regions 560 for on-screen objects inaccordance with some embodiments. A touch area 525 is determined tooverlap an object 570 if the touch area overlaps the object's hit region560. Similarly, a touch area is determined to intersect an object if thetouch area intersects the object's hit region. An object's hit region560 is typically the same as the object 570 displayed on the touchscreen. For example, in FIG. 5D, hit region 560-1 is the same as theon-screen object 570. In some embodiments, however, the hit region islarger (e.g., hit region 560-2, FIG. 5E) or smaller (e.g., hit region560-3, FIG. 5F) than the object 570 displayed on the touch screen. Alarger hit region (FIG. 5E) makes it easier for a touch area to overlapor intersect the object. Conversely, a smaller hit region (FIG. 5F)makes it harder for a touch area to overlap or intersect the object. Asused in the specification and claims, phrases like “determining if thetouch area overlaps an object” will be understood to mean “determiningif the touch area overlaps an object's hit region,” where the object'shit region may be the same as, larger than, or smaller than theon-screen object. For ease of illustration and explanation, an object'shit region 560 will be the same as the on-screen object (e.g., connectedobject 510 and unconnected object 600) in the Figures (except for FIGS.5E and 5F).

FIGS. 6A-6F illustrate various degrees and types of overlap of a toucharea with an object displayed on the touch screen display in accordancewith some embodiments. FIGS. 6A-6C show no overlap, partial overlap, andcomplete overlap, respectively, between a touch area 525 and anon-screen object. FIGS. 6D-6F illustrate different parts of the toucharea 525 that may be analyzed to determine if the touch area overlapsthe object, such as the perimeter of the touch area and/or an interiorportion of the touch area.

FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate touch areas created by modeling a single fingercontact as a geometric object in accordance with some embodiments. Thetouch areas 525 are modeled as ellipses with major axis 720 and minoraxis 715 in FIGS. 7A, 7D, and 7E. The touch areas 525 are modeled aspolygons in FIGS. 7B and 7C. FIG. 7E also illustrates angles between anaxis corresponding to the touch area 525 and an axis corresponding tothe touch screen display 505-2 that may be determined and used tomonitor rotation of the touch area. In turn, the determined rotation ofthe touch area may be used create corresponding rotations in objectsconnected to the touch area. Thus, information derived from a singlefinger contact may be used to control rotation of an on-screen object ina physically intuitive manner.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate moving an on-screen object connected to a singlefinger touch area in accordance with movement of the touch area.Exemplary movements include translation (FIG. 8A); rotation about apoint in the overlap region between the object and the touch area (FIG.8B); and simultaneous translation and rotation of the object (FIG. 8C).

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate two-dimensional and simulatedthree-dimensional on-screen objects modeled as a set of vertices inaccordance with some embodiments. The vertices may be arranged in rows(e.g., 914 a-f, FIG. 9A), columns (e.g., 912 a-j, FIG. 9A), and/ordiagonals (e.g., 916 a-n, Figure A).

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate moving an unconnected on-screen object inresponse to intersection (a virtual collision) with an on-screen objectconnected to a touch area.

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate moving an unconnected on-screen object inresponse to intersection with an on-screen object connected to a toucharea. Both objects are modeled as a set of vertices and a rigid bodysimulation of the virtual collision is displayed.

FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate moving an on-screen object in response tointersection (e.g., virtual nudging or bumping) with a touch area. Themovement may include translation (1206, FIG. 12C) and/or rotation (notshown) of the nudged object.

FIGS. 13A-13C illustrate moving multiple on-screen objects connected toa single finger touch area in accordance with movement of the toucharea. Exemplary movements include translation (FIG. 13A); rotation (FIG.13B); and simultaneous translation and rotation of the objects (FIG.13C). FIGS. 13D illustrates moving multiple on-screen objects, with eachobject connected to a single finger touch area, in accordance withmovement of the touch areas.

FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate moving on-screen objects in response tointersection (e.g., virtual nudging or bumping) with a touch area thatcorresponds to a hand edge. The movement may include translation (1420,1422, and 1424, FIG. 12C) and/or rotation (not shown) of the nudgedobjects.

FIGS. 15A-15B illustrate a touch area overlapping with one or morevertices of an on-screen object in accordance with some embodiments.Touch area overlap may determined with vertices on the perimeter of theobject (e.g., FIG. 15B) and/or with vertices in the interior of theobject (e.g., FIG. 15A).

For ease of illustration, FIGS. 8A-8C, 10A-10C, 11A-11C, 12A-12C,13A-13D, and 14A-14C show movements in fingers, touch areas, and objectsbetween widely separated positions a and b. In practice, detectingfinger contact movements and determining corresponding touch area andon-screen object movements are incremental determinations done in realtime. Thus, object(s) connected to a touch area will appear to beattached to the finger contact as the finger moves on the touch screendisplay (e.g., from position a to position b).

FIGS. 5A-5F, 6A-6F, 7A-7E, 8A-8C, 9A-9B, 10A-10C, 11A-11C, 12A-12C,13A-13D, 14A-14C, and 15A-15B illustrate exemplary user interfaces formoving on-screen objects in accordance with some embodiments. The userinterfaces in these Figures are used to illustrate the processesdescribed below with respect to FIGS. 16A-16G, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21A-21B,and 22.

FIGS. 16A-16G are flow diagrams illustrating a method of moving anon-screen object with a single finger in accordance with someembodiments. The method 1600 is performed at a computing device 300 witha touch screen display. In some embodiments, the method is performed ata portable multifunction device with a touch screen display (e.g.,portable multifunction device 100). As described below, the method 1600provides an intuitive interface for direct finger manipulation ofon-screen objects with a single finger, without using a cursor to movethe objects.

The device displays (1602) a plurality of objects on the touch screendisplay. For example, in FIG. 8A, objects 600-2, 600-3, and 510-7 aredisplayed on touch screen display 505. For ease of explanation, theobjects in FIG. 8A (and other similar figures) are shown as simplerectangular on-screen objects. In practice, the objects are typicallymore complex and may include text, web pages, icons (including softkeys), digital images, videos, animations, and other two-dimensional andsimulated three-dimensional objects.

The device detects (1604) a single finger contact on the touch screendisplay. For example, the device uses contact/motion module 130 (FIG.1A) to detect finger contact 520-1 on touch screen display 505-1 (FIGS.5A and 5B).

The device creates (1606, FIG. 16A) a touch area that corresponds to thesingle finger contact on the touch screen display. The touch areaincludes a perimeter (e.g., perimeter 550-2, FIG. 5C). For example, thedevice uses contact/motion module 130 (FIG. 1A) to create a touch area525-1 that corresponds to single finger contact 520-1 (FIGS. 5A and 5B).

In some embodiments, the device models (1652, FIG. 16D) the detectedsingle finger contact as a geometric object to create the touch area.For example, in FIG. 7A, the device uses contact/motion module 130 (FIG.1A) to model finger contact 520-2 as touch area 525-8.

In some embodiments, the geometric object is a two-dimensional object(1654), such as the touch areas 525 shown in FIGS. 7A-7E. In someembodiments, the geometric object is an ellipse (1656). For example, inFIGS. 7A, 7D, and 7E, the touch areas 525 are modeled as ellipses. Insome embodiments, the geometric object is a polygon (1658). For example,in FIG. 7B, the touch area 525-9 is modeled as a rectangle and in

FIG. 7C the touch area 525-10 is modeled as an octagon. In someembodiments, the touch area is bounded by a spline curve (1660).

In some embodiments, the device applies (1662) a watershed algorithm todata corresponding to the detected single finger contact 520 on thetouch screen display to create an image of the detected single fingercontact, and models the image as a geometric object to create the toucharea 525. In some embodiments, the data corresponding to the detectedsingle finger contact are capacitance data (1664), such as capacitancedata from a touch screen display that measures projected mutualcapacitance data. Like the touch area 525, the image is typically notdisplayed.

In some embodiments, the device thresholds (1666) data corresponding tothe detected single finger contact on the touch screen display to createa thresholded image of the detected single finger contact, and modelsthe thresholded image as a geometric object to create the touch area. Insome embodiments, the data corresponding to the detected single fingercontact are capacitance data (1668, FIG. 16D), such as capacitance datafrom a touch screen display that measures projected mutual capacitancedata. Like the touch area 525, the thresholded image is typically notdisplayed.

The device determines (1608, FIG. 16A) a representative point 530 withinthe touch area. For example, in FIG. 8A, the contact/motion module 130determines representative point 530-9-a when the finger 540-2-a makescontact with the touch screen 505 at position a.

In some embodiments, the representative point within the touch area isthe centroid of the touch area (1610), e.g., centroid 535 (FIG. 5A). Insome embodiments, the representative point within the touch area is apoint that is offset from the centroid of the touch area (1612). In someembodiments, the representative point within the touch area is a pointthat is offset from the centroid of the touch area along a major axis orminor axis of the touch area (1614). For example, in FIG. 7D, therepresentative point 530-8 within the touch area 525-11 is a point thatis offset from the centroid 535-2 of the touch area along a major axisof the touch area ellipse. The representative point 530 may be offsetfrom the centroid to compensate for parallax, persistent errors betweendesired and actual contact locations, or other finger placement errors.

In some embodiments, the device determines (1616) an axis of the toucharea. In some embodiments, the device determines (1618) a major axis 720of the touch area. In some embodiments, the device (1620) determines aminor axis 715 of the touch area. For example, in FIG. 7E, thecontact/motion module 130 determines major axis 720-4 and/or minor axis715-4 of touch area 525-12. In some embodiments, the device determines(1622) an angle between an axis corresponding to the touch area 525 andan axis corresponding to the touch screen display (e.g., an anglebetween a major or minor axis of the touch area and a vertical orhorizontal axis of the touch screen display). For example, in FIG. 7E,the contact/motion module 130 may determine at least one of: (1) angle730 between the major axis 720-4 of touch area 525-12 and a horizontalaxis 755 of the touch screen display 505; (2) angle 735 between themajor axis 720-4 of touch area 525-12 and a vertical axis 750 of thetouch screen display 505; (3) angle 740 between the minor axis 715-4 oftouch area 525-12 and a vertical axis 750 of the touch screen display505; and (3) angle 745 between the minor axis 715-4 of touch area 525-12and a horizontal axis 755 of the touch screen display 505. As explainedbelow, in response to detecting changes in one or more of these angles,the device may make corresponding changes in the rotation of objectsconnected to the touch area 525.

The device determines (1624, FIG. 16B) if the touch area 525 overlaps anobject in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screendisplay. Determining if the touch area overlaps the object includesdetermining if one or more portions of the touch area 525 other than therepresentative point 530 overlap the object (i.e., determining if one ormore portions of the touch area other than the representative pointoverlap the object is in addition to or in place of a determining if therepresentative point overlaps the object). This determination detectsoverlap with an object that would be missed if the overlap determinationwas just based on overlap between a representative point 530 of thetouch area 525 (e.g., the centroid 535) and the object.

As noted above, FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate various degrees of overlap of thetouch area 525 with an object displayed on the touch screen display inaccordance with some embodiments. In FIG. 6A, there is no overlapbetween the touch area 525-2 and the object 600-1. In FIG. 6B, there ispartial overlap between the touch area 525-3 and object 510-2, but thepartial overlap (overlap portion 610-1 of touch area 525-3) does notinclude the representative point 530-3 of touch area 525-3. In FIG. 6C,there is complete overlap of the touch area 525-4 and the object 510-3.

In some embodiments, determining if the touch area overlaps the objectincludes determining (1670, FIG. 16E) if the perimeter of the touch areaoverlaps the object. For example, for the object 510-4 and touch area525-5 shown in FIG. 6D, the contact/motion module 130 in conjunctionwith the graphics module 132 would determine that at least some of thebolded portion of perimeter 550-2 overlaps object 510-4.

In some embodiments, determining if the touch area overlaps the objectincludes determining (1672) if a portion of the touch area between therepresentative point within the touch area and the perimeter of thetouch area overlaps the object. For example, for the object 510-5 andtouch area 525-6 shown in FIG. 6E, the contact/motion module 130 inconjunction with the graphics module 132 would determine that at leastsome of the shaded portion 610-2 of touch area 525-6 overlaps object510-5.

In some embodiments, determining if the touch area overlaps the objectincludes determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps theobject, and determining if a portion of the touch area between therepresentative point within the touch area and the perimeter of thetouch area overlaps the object (1674). For example, for the object 510-6and touch area 525-7 shown in FIG. 6F, the contact/motion module 130 inconjunction with the graphics module 132 would determine that at leastsome of the bolded portion of perimeter 550-3 overlaps object 510-6 andat least some of the shaded portion 610-3 of touch area 525-7 overlapsobject 510-6.

In some embodiments, the object comprises a set of vertices anddetermining if the touch area overlaps the object comprises determining(1676) if the touch area overlaps with one or more vertices in the setof vertices. In some embodiments, the object has a shape and the set ofvertices form a mesh that corresponds to the shape of the object (1678).For example, in FIG. 15A, object 510-25 has a square shape, a set ofvertices form a mesh that corresponds to the square shape, and thecontact/motion module 130 in conjunction with the graphics module 132would determine that touch area 525-25 overlaps with the verticeshighlighted by black dots in FIG. 15A. In some embodiments, the objectincludes a perimeter and the set of vertices form the perimeter of theobject (1680, FIG. 16E). For example, in FIG. 15B, object 510-26 has aperimeter, a set of vertices form a perimeter of the object, and thecontact/motion module 130 in conjunction with the graphics module 132would determine that touch area 525-26 overlaps with the verticeshighlighted by black dots in FIG. 15B.

The device connects (1626, FIG. 16B) the object with the touch area ifthe touch area is determined to overlap the object. For example, in FIG.8A, the contact/motion module 130 in conjunction with the graphicsmodule 132 connect object 510-7 with touch area 525-13 because a portion610-20 of touch area 525-13-a overlaps object 510-7 (even though portion610-20 does not include the representative point 530-9-a of touch area525-13 a). Connecting the object with the touch area maintains theoverlap of the object and the touch area. As used herein, “connectingthe object with the touch area” means coordinating movement of theobject and the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap theobject so as to maintain the overlap of the object and the touch area.As used herein, “maintaining the overlap” means maintaining at leastsome overlap, and does not require maintaining exactly the same overlap.The size and shape of the overlap may change, e.g., because the size andshape of the detected finger contact 520 and the corresponding toucharea 525 may change somewhat during finger movement.

In some embodiments, the device leaves unconnected (1628) with the toucharea objects in the plurality of objects that do not overlap the toucharea. For example, in FIG. 8A, the device leaves objects 600-2 and 600-3unconnected with touch area 525-13 because objects 6002- and 600-3 donot overlap touch area 525-13 when a finger contact is made at positiona.

In some embodiments, creating (1606) the touch area 525, determining(1608) the representative point 530, determining (1624) if the toucharea 525 overlaps the object, and connecting (1626) the object with thetouch area are all done in response to detecting (1604) the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display.

After connecting the object with the touch area, the device detects(1630) movement of the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay. For example, in FIG. 8A, after connecting object 510-7 withtouch area 525-13 at position a, the contact/motion module 130 detectsmovement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display toanother position, position b.

The device determines (1632, FIG. 16B)) movement of the touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screendisplay. For example, in FIG. 8A, the contact/motion module 130determines movement 804 of the touch area from position a (where toucharea 525-13 is denoted 525-13-a) to position b (where touch area 525-13is denoted 525-13-b), which corresponds to movement of the single fingercontact on the touch screen display from position a to position b.

In some embodiments, determining movement of the touch area includesdetermining (1682, FIG. 16F) translation 804 of the touch area inaccordance with the detected movement (e.g., from 525-13-a to 525-13-bin FIG. 8A).

In some embodiments, determining movement of the touch area includesdetermining (1684) translation 804 of the representative point of thetouch area in accordance with the detected movement (e.g., from 530-9-ato 530-9-b in FIG. 8A).

In some embodiments, determining movement of the touch area includesdetermining (1686) rotation 808 of the touch area in accordance with thedetected movement of the contact (e.g., from 525-14-a to 525-14-b inFIG. 8B).

In some embodiments, determining movement of the touch area includesdetermining (1688) rotation of an axis of the touch area (e.g., majoraxis 720 or minor axis 715) in accordance with the detected movement ofthe contact. For example, the contact/motion module 130 may determinerotation of major axis 720 or minor axis 715 relative to an axis of thetouch screen by determining a change in angle 730, 735, 740, or 745(FIG. 7E) in accordance with the detected movement of the contact.

In some embodiments, determining movement of the touch area includesdetermining (1690) translation and rotation 816 of the touch area inaccordance with the detected movement of the contact (e.g., from525-16-a to 525-16-b in FIG. 8C).

In some embodiments, determining movement of the touch area includesdetermining (1692, FIG. 16F) changes in the size and shape of the toucharea 525 in accordance with the detected movement of the contact.

The device moves (1634, FIG. 16B) the object connected with the toucharea in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area. Forexample, in conjunction with the contact/motion module 130, the graphicsmodule 132 moves the object connected with the touch area 525 inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area. By usingdirect finger manipulation, the object is moved in accordance with thedetermined movement of the touch area without using a cursor (1635).

In some embodiments, moving the object connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area includestranslating (1693, FIG. 16G) the object connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area. For example,in FIG. 8A, the graphics module 132 moves 806 connected object 510-7from position a (where object 510-7 is denoted object 510-7-a) toposition b (where object 510-7 is denoted 510-7-b), in accordance withthe determined movement 804 of the touch area 525-13 from 525-13-a to525-13-b. In FIG. 8A, object 510-7 will appear to be connected to theuser's finger 540 during the translation.

In some embodiments, moving the object connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area includesrotating (1694) the object connected with the touch area in accordancewith the determined movement of the touch area. For example, in FIG. 8B,the graphics module 132 rotates 810 connected object 510-8 from positiona (where object 510-8 is denoted object 510-8-a) to position b (whereobject 510-8 is denoted 510-8-b), in accordance with the determinedmovement 808 of the touch area 525-14 from 525-14-a to 525-14-b. In FIG.8B, object 510-8 will appear to be connected to the user's finger 540during the rotation.

In some embodiments, rotating the object connected with the touch areain accordance with the determined movement of the touch area includesrotating (1695) the object connected with the touch area about a pointin an area that overlaps the touch area and the object connected withthe touch area (e.g., about the centroid of the area that overlaps thetouch area and the object connected with the touch area).

In some embodiments, moving the object connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area includessimultaneously translating and rotating (1696) the object connected withthe touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the toucharea. For example, in FIG. 8C, the graphics module 132 simultaneouslytranslates and rotates 818 connected object 510-10 from position a(where object 510-10 is denoted object 510-10-a) to position b (whereobject 510-10 is denoted 510-10-b), in accordance with the determinedmovement 816 of the touch area 525-16 from 525-16-a to 525-16-b. In FIG.8C, object 510-10 will appear to be connected to the user's finger 540during the simultaneous translation and rotation.

In some embodiments, moving the object connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area includesmoving (1697) the object in accordance with a simulation of an equationof motion having friction. For example, the object may be flung acrossthe touch screen, bounce off a screen edge or another object, andgradually come to rest when the finger contact that corresponds to thetouch area breaks contact with the touch screen.

In some embodiments, the object connected with the touch area includes arigid body mesh (e.g., FIGS. 9A and 9B) and moving the object connectedwith the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of thetouch area includes moving (1698) the object connected with the toucharea in accordance with a rigid body simulation (e.g. FIGS. 11A-11C). Insome embodiments, the rigidity of the mesh may be adjusted by a user.

In some embodiments, the object connected with the touch area simulatesa three-dimensional object and moving the object connected with thetouch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch areaincludes moving (1699, FIG. 16G) the object connected with the toucharea in accordance with a three-dimensional simulation. For example, thegraphics module 132 may simulate translation and/or rotation of thethree-dimensional object out of the plane of the touch screen display.

In some embodiments, while detecting movement of the single fingercontact 520 on the touch screen display, the device detects intersectionof the touch area 525 and/or the object 510 connected with the toucharea with an unconnected object 600 in the plurality of objects on thetouch screen display. In contrast to a “connected” object 510, an“unconnected” object 600 does not at least partially overlap with atouch area 525 that corresponds to a finger contact 520 when the fingerinitially makes contact with the touch screen display 505. Thus, themovement of an unconnected object 600 is not coordinated with themovement of the touch area 525 so as to maintain overlap of theunconnected object and the touch area. Instead, as described below withrespect to FIGS. 12A-12C, an unconnected object 600 moves away from atouch area 525 when the touch area intersects the unconnected object600. Similarly, as described below with respect to FIGS. 10A-10C and11A-11C, an unconnected object 600 moves away from a connected object510 (moving in concert with the touch area 525) when the connectedobject 510 intersects the unconnected object 600.

In response to detecting intersection of the touch area 525 and/or theobject 510 connected with the touch area with the unconnected object600, the device moves (1636, FIG. 16C) the unconnected object such thatthe unconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or theobject connected with the touch area.

For example, in FIG. 12A, the contact/motion module 130 detects movement1202 of the single finger contact on the touch screen display. In FIG.12B, the contact/motion module 130 detects intersection 1204 of toucharea 525-19-b with an unconnected object 600-13-b in a plurality ofobjects (600-13 and 600-15) on the touch screen display 505. In FIG.12C, in response to detecting the intersection 1204, the graphics module132 in conjunction with the contact/motion module 130 moves theunconnected object 600-13-c such that the unconnected object ceases tointersect the touch area 525-19-c.

As another example, in FIG. 10A, the contact/motion module 130 detectsmovement 1002 of the single finger contact on the touch screen display(which results in corresponding movement 1004 of object 510-11, which isconnected to touch area 525-17-a). In FIG. 10B, the graphics module 132in conjunction with the contact/motion module 130 detects intersection1006 of connected object 510-11-b with an unconnected object 600-10-b ina plurality of objects (600-10 and 600-11) on the touch screen display505. In FIG. 10C, in response to detecting the intersection 1006, thegraphics module 132 in conjunction with the contact/motion module 130moves the unconnected object 600-10-c such that the unconnected objectceases to intersect the connected object 510-11-c.

In some embodiments, moving the unconnected object 600 such that theunconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area 525 and/or theobject 510 connected with the touch area includes translating (1638) theunconnected object. For example, unconnected object 600-13-c istranslated 1206 in FIG. 12C and unconnected object 600-10-c istranslated 1008 in FIG. 10C.

In some embodiments, moving the unconnected object such that theunconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the objectconnected with the touch area includes rotating (1640) the unconnectedobject. For example, unconnected object 600-10-c is rotated 1010 in FIG.10C.

In some embodiments, moving the unconnected object such that theunconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the objectconnected with the touch area includes simultaneously translating androtating (1642) the unconnected object. For example, unconnected object600-10-c is simultaneously translated 1008 and rotated 1010 in FIG. 10C.

In some embodiments, moving the unconnected object such that theunconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the objectconnected with the touch area includes moving unconnected the object inaccordance with a simulation of an equation of motion having friction(1644). For example, the unconnected object may recoil from theintersection (a virtual collision) like a physical object, move acrossthe touch screen, bounce off a screen edge or another object, andgradually come to rest in response to the intersection 1006.

In some embodiments, the unconnected object includes a rigid body meshand moving the unconnected object such that the unconnected objectceases to intersect the touch area and/or the object connected with thetouch area includes moving the unconnected object in accordance with arigid body simulation (1646). In some embodiments, the rigidity of themesh may be adjusted by a user.

For example, in FIGS. 11A-11C, both connected object 1104 andunconnected object 1102 include a rigid body mesh. These meshes areshown in FIGS. 11A-11C, but are typically not directly seen on touchscreen display 505. In FIG. 11A, the contact/motion module 130 detectsmovement 1120 of the single finger contact on the touch screen display(which results in corresponding movement 1122 of object 1104-a, which isconnected to touch area 525-18-a). In FIG. 11B, the graphics module 132in conjunction with the contact/motion module 130 detects intersectionof connected object 1104-b with an unconnected object 1102-b in aplurality of objects on the touch screen display 505. As part of a rigidbody simulation of the intersection (collision), object 1104-b ismomentarily compressed 1126 and object 1102-b is momentarily compressed1128 in FIG. 11B. In FIG. 11C, in response to detecting theintersection, the graphics module 132 in conjunction with thecontact/motion module 130 moves the unconnected object 1102-c such thatthe unconnected object ceases to intersect the connected object 1104-c.As part of the rigid body simulation, object 1104-c expands 1136 back toits original shape and object 1102-c expands 1134 back to its originalshape, as shown in FIG. 11C.

In some embodiments, the unconnected object simulates athree-dimensional object and moving the unconnected object such that theunconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the objectconnected with the touch area includes moving the unconnected object inaccordance with a three-dimensional simulation (1648). For example, thegraphics module 132 may simulate translation and/or rotation of thethree-dimensional unconnected object out of the plane of the touchscreen display.

In some embodiments, the device determines that the touch area 525ceases to overlap with the connected object 510. In some embodiments,the touch area ceases to overlap with the connected object because of adecrease in the size of the touch area (e.g., a stationary touch areareduces in size). In some embodiments, the touch area overlap ceasesbecause the corresponding finger contact 520 with the touch screendisplay ceases, thereby eliminating the touch area. In response todetermining that the touch area ceases to overlap with the connectedobject, the device disconnects (1650) the touch area from the connectedobject.

Note that details of the processes described above with respect tomethod 1600 (e.g., FIGS. 16D-16G) are also applicable in an analogousmanner to methods 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, and 2200 described below. Forbrevity, these details are not repeated below.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of moving an on-screenobject with a single finger in accordance with some embodiments. Themethod 1700 is performed at a computing device 300 with a touch screendisplay. In some embodiments, the method is performed at a portablemultifunction device with a touch screen display (e.g., portablemultifunction device 100). As described below, the method 1700 providesan intuitive interface for direct finger manipulation of on-screenobjects with a single finger, without using a cursor to move theobjects.

The device displays (1702) a plurality of objects on the touch screendisplay (e.g., objects 600-2, 600-3, and 510-7, FIG. 8A).

The device detects (1704) a single finger contact on the touch screendisplay (e.g., contact 520-1, FIGS. 5A and 5B).

The device creates (1706) a touch area that corresponds to the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display (e.g., touch area 525-1 thatcorresponds to single finger contact 520-1, FIGS. 5A and 5B). The toucharea includes a perimeter (e.g., perimeter 550-2, FIG. 5C).

The device determines (1708) a representative point within the toucharea (e.g., point 530-9-a when the finger 540-2-a makes contact with thetouch screen 505 at position a, FIG. 8A).

For an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screendisplay, the device: determines if the representative point 530 of thetouch area 525 overlaps the object; determines if the perimeter 550 ofthe touch area overlaps the object; and determines if a portion 610 ofthe touch area between the representative point of the touch area andthe perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object (1710).

The device connects (1712) the object with the touch area if the toucharea is determined to overlap the object (e.g., in FIG. 8A, object 510-7is connected with touch area 525-13). Connecting the object with thetouch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area.

In some embodiments, creating (1706) the touch area 525, determining(1708) the representative point 530, determining (1710) if the toucharea 525 overlaps the object, and connecting (1712) the object with thetouch area are all done in response to detecting (1704) the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display.

After connecting the object with the touch area, the device detects(1714) movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display(e.g., from position a to position b in FIG. 8A).

The device determines (1716) movement of the touch area that correspondsto movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display(e.g., movement 804 of the touch area 525-13 from position a to positionb, FIG. 8A).

The device moves (1718) the object connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined movement of the touch area (e.g., move806 connected object 510-7 from position a to position b, FIG. 8A). Byusing direct finger manipulation, the object is moved in accordance withthe determined movement of the touch area without using a cursor (1720).

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of rotating an on-screenobject with a single finger in accordance with some embodiments. Themethod 1800 is performed at a computing device 300 with a touch screendisplay. In some embodiments, the method is performed at a portablemultifunction device with a touch screen display (e.g., portablemultifunction device 100). As described below, the method 1800 providesan intuitive interface for rotating on-screen objects with a singlefinger, without using a cursor to rotate the objects.

The device displays (1802) a plurality of objects on the touch screendisplay (e.g., objects 600-2, 600-3, and 510-8, FIG. 8B).

The device detects (1804) a single finger contact on the touch screendisplay (e.g., contact 520-1, FIGS. 5A and 5B).

The device creates (1806) a touch area that corresponds to the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display (e.g., touch area 525-1 thatcorresponds to single finger contact 520-1, FIGS. 5A and 5B).

The device determines (1808) if the touch area (e.g., touch area525-14-a, FIG. 8B) overlaps an object (e.g., object 510-8-a, FIG. 8B) inthe plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display.

The device connects (1810) the object with the touch area if the toucharea is determined to overlap the object (e.g., in FIG. 8B, object 510-8is connected with touch area 525-14).

In some embodiments, creating (1806) the touch area 525, determining(1808) if the touch area 525 overlaps the object, and connecting (1810)the object with the touch area are all done in response to detecting(1804) the single finger contact on the touch screen display.

After connecting the object with the touch area, the device detects(1812) rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display(e.g., from position a to position b in FIG. 8B).

The device determines (1814) rotation of the touch area that correspondsto rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display(e.g., rotation 808 of the touch area 525-14 from position a to positionb, FIG. 8B).

The device rotates (1816) the object connected with the touch area inaccordance with the determined rotation of the touch area (e.g., rotate810 connected object 510-8 from position a to position b, FIG. 8B). Byusing direct finger manipulation, the object is rotated in accordancewith the determined movement of the touch area without using a cursor(1818).

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of moving an on-screenobject with a single finger in accordance with some embodiments. Themethod 1900 is performed at a computing device 300 with a touch screendisplay. In some embodiments, the method is performed at a portablemultifunction device with a touch screen display (e.g., portablemultifunction device 100). As described below, the method 1900 providesan intuitive interface for nudging and otherwise moving on-screenobjects with a single finger via direct finger manipulation, withoutusing a cursor to move the objects.

The device displays (1902) a plurality of objects on the touch screendisplay (e.g., objects 600-13 and 600-15, FIG. 12A).

The device detects (1904) a single finger contact on the touch screendisplay (e.g., contact 520-1, FIGS. 5A and 5B).

The device creates (1906) a touch area that corresponds to the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display (e.g., touch area 525-1 thatcorresponds to single finger contact 520-1, FIGS. 5A and 5B). In someembodiments, creating (1906) the touch area 525 is done in response todetecting (1706) the single finger contact on the touch screen display.

The device detects (1908) movement of the single finger contact on thetouch screen display (e.g., from position a in FIG. 12A to position b inFIG. 12B).

The device determines (1910) movement 1202 (FIG. 12A) of the touch areathat corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touchscreen display.

While detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touchscreen display, the device detects (1912) intersection 1204 (FIG. 12B)of the touch area (e.g., touch area 525-19-b, FIG. 12B) with an object(e.g., object 600-13-b, FIG. 12B) in the plurality of objects on thetouch screen display.

In response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object,the device moves (1914) the object such that the object ceases tointersect the touch area. For example, in response to detectingintersection 1204 (FIG. 12B) of the touch area 525-19-b with the object600-13-b, the device moves (1206) the object such that the object600-13-c ceases to intersect the touch area 525-19-c (FIG. 12C). Byusing direct finger manipulation, the object is moved without using acursor (1916).

FIG. 20 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of moving a plurality ofon-screen objects with a single finger in accordance with someembodiments. The method 2000 is performed at a computing device 300 witha touch screen display. In some embodiments, the method is performed ata portable multifunction device with a touch screen display (e.g.,portable multifunction device 100). As described below, the method 2000provides an intuitive interface for direct finger manipulation ofmultiple on-screen objects with a single finger, without using a cursorto move the objects.

The device detects (2002) a single finger contact on the touch screendisplay (e.g., contact 520-1, FIGS. 5A and 5B).

The device creates (2004) a touch area that corresponds to the singlefinger contact on the touch screen display (e.g., touch area 525-1 thatcorresponds to single finger contact 520-1, FIGS. 5A and 5B). The toucharea includes a perimeter (e.g., perimeter 550-2, FIG. 5C).

The device determines (2006) if the touch area (e.g., touch area525-20-a, FIG. 13A; touch area 525-21-a, FIG. 13B; or touch area525-22-a, FIG. 13C) overlaps with a plurality of objects (e.g., objects510-15-a and 510-16-a, FIG. 13A; objects 510-17-a and 510-18-a, FIG.13B; or objects 510-19-a and 510-20-a, FIG. 13C, respectively) displayedon the touch screen display.

In some embodiments, the device determines a representative point (e.g.,point 530-21, FIG. 13A; point 530-22, FIG. 13B; or point 530-23, FIG.13C, respectively) within the touch area and determines (2008) if one ormore portions of the touch area other than the representative pointoverlap the plurality of objects.

The device connects (2010) the plurality of objects with the touch areaif each object in the plurality of objects is determined to overlap thetouch area (e.g., in FIG. 13A, objects 510-15 and 510-16 are connectedwith touch area 525-20; in FIG. 13B, objects 510-17 and 510-18 areconnected with touch area 525-21; and, in FIG. 13C, objects 510-19 and510-20 are connected with touch area 525-22, respectively). Connectingthe plurality of objects with the touch area maintains the overlapbetween the touch area and each object in the plurality of objects.

In some embodiments, creating (2004) the touch area 525, determining(2008) the representative point 530, determining (2006) if the toucharea 525 overlaps the plurality of objects, and connecting (1626) theobjects with the touch area are all done in response to detecting (2002)the single finger contact on the touch screen display.

After connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area, thedevice detects (2012) movement of the single finger contact on the touchscreen display (e.g., from position a to position b in FIG. 13A; fromposition a to position b in FIG. 13B; or from position a to position bin FIG. 13C).

The device determines (2014) movement of the touch area that correspondsto movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display(e.g., movement 1302 of the touch area 525-20 from position a toposition b, FIG. 13A; movement 1306 of the touch area 525-21 fromposition a to position b, FIG. 13B; or movement 1310 of the touch area525-22 from position a to position b, FIG. 13C, respectively).

The device moves (2016) the plurality of objects connected with thetouch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area(e.g., translate 1304 connected objects 510-15 and 510-16 from positiona to position b, FIG. 13A; rotate 1308 connected objects 510-17 and510-18 from position a to position b, FIG. 13B; or simultaneouslytranslate and rotate 1312 connected objects 510-19 and 510-20 fromposition a to position b, FIG. 13C, respectively). By using directfinger manipulation, the plurality of objects are moved in accordancewith the determined movement of the touch area without using a cursor(2017).

In some embodiments, while detecting movement of the single fingercontact on the touch screen display, the device detects intersection ofthe touch area and/or the plurality of objects connected with the toucharea with an unconnected object on the touch screen display. In responseto detecting intersection of the touch area and/or the plurality ofobjects connected with the touch area with the unconnected object, thedevice moves (2018) the unconnected object such that the unconnectedobject ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the plurality ofobjects connected with the touch area.

In some embodiments, the device determines that the touch area ceases tooverlap with an object in the plurality of objects connected with thetouch area. In response to determining that the touch area ceases tooverlap with the object, the device disconnects (2020) the touch areafrom the object.

FIGS. 21A-21B are flow diagrams illustrating a method of simultaneouslymoving multiple on-screen objects with multiple fingers in accordancewith some embodiments. The method 2100 is performed at a computingdevice 300 with a touch screen display. In some embodiments, the methodis performed at a portable multifunction device with a touch screendisplay (e.g., portable multifunction device 100). As described below,the method 2100 provides an intuitive interface for direct fingermanipulation of multiple on-screen objects with multiple fingers,without using a cursor to move the objects.

The device displays (2102) a plurality of objects on the touch screendisplay (e.g., objects 510-21, 510-22, 600-20 and 600-21, FIG. 13D).

The device simultaneously detects (2104) a plurality of finger contactson the touch screen display (e.g., contacts by fingers 540-10-a and540-11-a in FIG. 13D, with each contact analogous to contact 520-1 inFIGS. 5A and 5B).

For each respective finger contact in the plurality of detected fingercontacts, the device: creates a respective touch area that correspondsto the respective finger contact on the touch screen display (e.g.,touch area 525-23-a for the contact by finger 540-10-a and touch area525-24-a for the contact by finger 540-11-a in FIG. 13D), wherein therespective touch area includes a perimeter; determines a respectiverepresentative point within the respective touch area (e.g., point530-24 in touch area 525-23-a and point 530-25 in touch area 525-24-a inFIG. 13D); and determines if the respective touch area overlaps arespective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touchscreen display (2106). Determining if the respective touch area overlapsthe respective object includes determining if one or more portions ofthe respective touch area other than the respective representative point(e.g., points 530-24 and 530-25) overlap the respective object.

The device connects (2108) the respective object with the respectivetouch area if the respective object is determined to overlap therespective touch area (e.g., in FIG. 13D, object 510-22 is connectedwith touch area 525-23 and object 510-21 is connected with touch area525-24). Connecting the respective object with the respective touch areamaintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective toucharea.

In some embodiments, creating (2106) a respective touch area 525,determining a respective representative point 530, determining if thetouch area 525 overlaps a respective object, and connecting (2108) therespective object with the respective touch area are all done inresponse to detecting (2104) the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display.

After connecting the respective object with the respective touch area,the device detects (2110) movement of the respective finger contact onthe touch screen display (e.g., from respective position a to respectiveposition b in FIG. 13D).

The device determines (2112) movement of the respective touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display (e.g., movement 1314 of the touch area 525-24 fromposition a to position b, FIG. 13D, and movement 1316 of the touch area525-23 from position a to position b, FIG. 13D).

The device moves (2114) the respective object connected with therespective touch area in accordance with the determined movement of therespective touch area (e.g., simultaneously translate and rotate 1318connected object 510-21 from position a to position b, FIG. 13D andsimultaneously translate and rotate 1320 connected object 510-22 fromposition a to position b, FIG. 13D). By using direct fingermanipulation, the respective object is moved in accordance with thedetermined movement of the respective touch area without using a cursor(2115).

In some embodiments, for a respective finger contact in the plurality ofdetected finger contacts: while detecting movement of the respectivefinger contact on the touch screen display, the device detectsintersection of the respective touch area and/or the respective objectconnected with the respective touch area with a respective unconnectedobject in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display. Inresponse to detecting intersection of the respective touch area and/orthe respective object connected with the touch area with the respectiveunconnected object, the device moves (2116) the respective unconnectedobject such that the respective unconnected object ceases to intersectthe respective touch area and/or the respective object connected withthe respective touch area.

In some embodiments, for a respective finger contact in the plurality ofdetected finger contacts: the device determines that the respectivetouch area ceases to overlap with the respective connected object. Inresponse to determining that the respective touch area ceases to overlapwith the respective connected object, the device disconnects (2118) therespective touch area from the respective connected object.

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of moving an object witha hand edge contact in accordance with some embodiments. The method 2200is performed at a computing device 300 with a touch screen display. Insome embodiments, the method is performed at a portable multifunctiondevice with a touch screen display (e.g., portable multifunction device100). As described below, the method 2200 provides an intuitiveinterface for direct manipulation of on-screen objects with a hand edge,without using a cursor to move the object.

The device displays (2202) a plurality of objects on the touch screendisplay (e.g., objects 600-24-600-28, FIG. 14A).

The device detects (2204) a hand edge contact on the touch screendisplay. The hand edge contact comprises a pinky finger edge contact anda palm edge contact.

The device creates (2206) a touch area that corresponds to the hand edgecontact on the touch screen display. For example, in FIG. 14A, toucharea 1402-a includes touch area 1404-1-a that corresponds to a firstportion of the pinky finger edge contact, touch area 1404-2-a thatcorresponds to a second portion of the pinky finger edge contact, andtouch area 1406-a that corresponds to the palm edge contact. In someembodiments, creating (2206) the touch area 1402 is done in response todetecting (2204) the hand edge contact on the touch screen display.

The device detects (2208) movement of the hand edge contact on the touchscreen display.

The device determines (2210) movement of the touch area that correspondsto movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display (e.g.,movements 1408, 1410, and 1412 of the component touch areas in toucharea 1402, FIG. 14A).

While detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screendisplay, the device detects (2212) intersection of the touch area withan object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display (e.g.,intersection 1414 with object 600-26-b, intersection 1416 with object600-27-b, and intersection 1418 with object 600-27-b, FIG. 14B).

In response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object,the device moves (2214) the object such that the object ceases tointersect the touch area. For example, in response to detectingintersection 1414 (FIG. 14B) of the touch area 1404-1-b with the object600-26-b, the device moves (1420) the object such that the object600-26-c ceases to intersect the touch area 1404-1-c (FIG. 14C).Similarly, in response to detecting intersection 1416 (FIG. 14B) of thetouch area 1404-2-b with the object 600-27-b, the device moves (1422)the object such that the object 600-27-c ceases to intersect the toucharea 1404-2-c (FIG. 14C). Similarly, in response to detectingintersection 1418 (FIG. 14B) of the touch area 1406-b with the object600-28-b, the device moves (1424) the object such that the object600-28-c ceases to intersect the touch area 1406-c (FIG. 14C). By usingdirect manipulation, the object is moved without using a cursor (2216).

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention andvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A method, comprising: at a computing device with a touch screendisplay: displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;simultaneously detecting a plurality of finger contacts on the touchscreen display; and for each respective finger contact in the pluralityof detected finger contacts: creating a respective touch area thatcorresponds to the respective finger contact on the touch screendisplay; determining a respective representative point within therespective touch area; determining if the respective touch area overlapsa respective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touchscreen display, wherein determining if the respective touch areaoverlaps the respective object includes determining if one or moreportions of the respective touch area other than the respectiverepresentative point overlap the respective object; connecting therespective object with the respective touch area if the respectiveobject is determined to overlap the respective touch area, whereinconnecting the respective object with the respective touch areamaintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective toucharea; after connecting the respective object with the respective toucharea, detecting movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; determining movement of the respective touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; and moving the respective object connected with therespective touch area in accordance with the determined movement of therespective touch area.
 2. The method of claim 1, including: for arespective finger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts:while detecting movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display, detecting intersection of the respective touch areaand/or the respective object connected with the respective touch areawith a respective unconnected object in the plurality of objects on thetouch screen display; and in response to detecting intersection of therespective touch area and/or the respective object connected with thetouch area with the respective unconnected object, moving the respectiveunconnected object such that the respective unconnected object ceases tointersect the respective touch area and/or the respective objectconnected with the respective touch area.
 3. The method of claim 1,including: for a respective finger contact in the plurality of detectedfinger contacts: determining that the respective touch area ceases tooverlap with the respective connected object; and in response todetermining that the respective touch area ceases to overlap with therespective connected object, disconnecting the respective touch areafrom the respective connected object.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe respective object is moved in accordance with the determinedmovement of the respective touch area without using a cursor.
 5. Acomputing device, comprising: a touch screen display; one or moreprocessors; memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or moreprograms are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by theone or more processors, the one or more programs including instructionsfor: displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;simultaneously detecting a plurality of finger contacts on the touchscreen display; for each respective finger contact in the plurality ofdetected finger contacts: creating a respective touch area thatcorresponds to the respective finger contact on the touch screendisplay; determining a respective representative point within therespective touch area; determining if the respective touch area overlapsa respective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touchscreen display, wherein determining if the respective touch areaoverlaps the respective object includes determining if one or moreportions of the respective touch area other than the respectiverepresentative point overlap the respective object; connecting therespective object with the respective touch area if the respectiveobject is determined to overlap the respective touch area, whereinconnecting the respective object with the respective touch areamaintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective toucharea; after connecting the respective object with the respective toucharea, detecting movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; determining movement of the respective touch area thatcorresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display; and moving the respective object connected with therespective touch area in accordance with the determined movement of therespective touch area.
 6. The device of claim 5, including instructionsfor: for a respective finger contact in the plurality of detected fingercontacts: while detecting movement of the respective finger contact onthe touch screen display, detecting intersection of the respective toucharea and/or the respective object connected with the respective toucharea with a respective unconnected object in the plurality of objects onthe touch screen display; and in response to detecting intersection ofthe respective touch area and/or the respective object connected withthe touch area with the respective unconnected object, moving therespective unconnected object such that the respective unconnectedobject ceases to intersect the respective touch area and/or therespective object connected with the respective touch area.
 7. Thedevice of claim 5, including instructions for: for a respective fingercontact in the plurality of detected finger contacts: determining thatthe respective touch area ceases to overlap with the respectiveconnected object; and in response to determining that the respectivetouch area ceases to overlap with the respective connected object,disconnecting the respective touch area from the respective connectedobject.
 8. The device of claim 5, wherein the respective object is movedin accordance with the determined movement of the respective touch areawithout using a cursor.
 9. A non-transitory computer readable storagemedium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by acomputing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;simultaneously detect a plurality of finger contacts on the touch screendisplay; for each respective finger contact in the plurality of detectedfinger contacts: create a respective touch area that corresponds to therespective finger contact on the touch screen display; determine arespective representative point within the respective touch area;determine if the respective touch area overlaps a respective object inthe plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, whereindetermining if the respective touch area overlaps the respective objectincludes determining if one or more portions of the respective toucharea other than the respective representative point overlap therespective object; connect the respective object with the respectivetouch area if the respective object is determined to overlap therespective touch area, wherein connecting the respective object with therespective touch area maintains the overlap of the respective object andthe respective touch area; after connecting the respective object withthe respective touch area, detect movement of the respective fingercontact on the touch screen display; determine movement of therespective touch area that corresponds to movement of the respectivefinger contact on the touch screen display; and move the respectiveobject connected with the respective touch area in accordance with thedetermined movement of the respective touch area.
 10. The computerreadable storage medium of claim 9, including instructions which causethe device to: for a respective finger contact in the plurality ofdetected finger contacts: while detecting movement of the respectivefinger contact on the touch screen display, detect intersection of therespective touch area and/or the respective object connected with therespective touch area with a respective unconnected object in theplurality of objects on the touch screen display; and in response todetecting intersection of the respective touch area and/or therespective object connected with the touch area with the respectiveunconnected object, move the respective unconnected object such that therespective unconnected object ceases to intersect the respective toucharea and/or the respective object connected with the respective toucharea.
 11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, includinginstructions which cause the device to: for a respective finger contactin the plurality of detected finger contacts: determine that therespective touch area ceases to overlap with the respective connectedobject; and in response to determining that the respective touch areaceases to overlap with the respective connected object, disconnect therespective touch area from the respective connected object.
 12. Thecomputer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the respectiveobject is moved in accordance with the determined movement of therespective touch area without using a cursor.
 13. A graphical userinterface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:a plurality of objects; wherein: the plurality of objects are displayedon the touch screen display; a plurality of finger contacts on the touchscreen display are simultaneously detected; and for each respectivefinger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts: arespective touch area is created that corresponds to the respectivefinger contact on the touch screen display; a respective representativepoint within the respective touch area is determined; whether therespective touch area overlaps a respective object in the plurality ofobjects displayed on the touch screen display is determined, wherein thedetermination includes determining if one or more portions of therespective touch area other than the respective representative pointoverlap the respective object; the respective object is connected withthe respective touch area if the respective object is determined tooverlap the respective touch area, wherein connecting the respectiveobject with the respective touch area maintains the overlap of therespective object and the respective touch area; after connecting therespective object with the respective touch area, movement of therespective finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;movement of the respective touch area is determined that corresponds tomovement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;and the respective object connected with the respective touch area ismoved in accordance with the determined movement of the respective toucharea.
 14. The graphical user interface of claim 13, wherein: for arespective finger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts:while detecting movement of the respective finger contact on the touchscreen display, intersection is detected of the respective touch areaand/or the respective object connected with the respective touch areawith a respective unconnected object in the plurality of objects on thetouch screen display; and in response to detecting intersection of therespective touch area and/or the respective object connected with thetouch area with the respective unconnected object, the respectiveunconnected object is moved such that the respective unconnected objectceases to intersect the respective touch area and/or the respectiveobject connected with the respective touch area.
 15. The graphical userinterface of claim 13, wherein: for a respective finger contact in theplurality of detected finger contacts: the respective touch area isdetermined to cease to overlap with the respective connected object; andin response to determining that the respective touch area ceases tooverlap with the respective connected object, the respective touch areais disconnected from the respective connected object.
 16. The graphicaluser interface of claim 13, wherein the respective object is moved inaccordance with the determined movement of the respective touch areawithout using a cursor.